Oh Se-hoon: 'Park Won-soon Led Cancellation of Seoul Redevelopment, Yet Blames Others'

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has claimed that the city's housing supply cliff stems from the tenure of former Mayor Park Won-soon, emphasizing that accountability must be clearly established.

Mayor Oh made the remarks during the Housing Policy Performance Sharing Meeting held in the main conference room of Seoul City Hall today (the 21st).

"When I took office (in 2021), urban redevelopment projects were at a standstill," Mayor Oh said. "A total of 389 areas were canceled between 2012 and 2020, amounting to 430,000 housing units."

He pointed out, "They were busy canceling (redevelopment projects) under the pretext of conflicts within promotion committees or housing associations. It would be more accurate to say they induced cancellations. The Seoul city government created gaps and incited conflicts."

He added, "The 35-story height limit for residential buildings was also introduced during Mayor Park's term, causing many redevelopment complexes to stall. Furthermore, the consent requirement was tightened from once to three times. They did everything they could to prevent (redevelopment)."

Mayor Oh explained, "I initially refrained from speaking out because it felt like passing the work of the former mayor's aides onto public servants. However, as a few years have passed, they have brazenly shifted the blame onto their successors, so I decided I could no longer stay silent."

Addressing the premise that the ruling party and government claim 60% of the 389 canceled redevelopment zones during former Mayor Park Won-soon's tenure were voluntary cancellations, he fiercely criticized, "It is a cunning tactic to put up a front. A prime example is the provision for discretionary cancellation if 30% of residents object. The Seoul city government fueled conflicts and instigated cancellations when 30% opposed. This goes beyond a lack of conscience; it is deeply malicious."

He added, "During the elections, I even heard claims that Mayor Oh had already started canceling redevelopment projects toward the end of his term. Because prolonged delays harm residents in certain areas, we canceled an extremely small number, and they are exploiting this to shift the blame. It is utterly shocking."

"Democratic Party lawmakers will likely repeat such claims during this parliamentary audit," he said. "That is why I am explaining it repeatedly as well."


Mayor Oh noted that regulations from the central government were no different, stating, "The weight of structural safety evaluations for reconstruction was raised from 20% to 50%, and almost no projects passed. From the perspective of districts wanting redevelopment, the policy bordered on atrocities."

He forcefully stated, "Have you already forgotten all of that, and yet you blame others after implementing such policies?"

He also continued his criticism regarding remarks made by President Lee Jae-myung during a press conference on the 18th, where the President pointed to Mayor Oh as the cause of soaring real estate prices in Seoul.

President Lee had mentioned at the time, "Starting from the year Mayor Oh Se-hoon was elected, the number of approvals and housing starts (for redevelopment projects) has been cut in half."

Seoul Mayor Oh responded today, "While there are various reasons for a decline in approvals and housing starts, if preceding steps such as zone designation or association establishment do not proceed smoothly, approvals are impossible. How can we grant approvals when the foundation is missing?"

He added, "I could not help but deplore watching the President publicly make such far-fetched claims."

Mayor Oh sharpened his tone, saying, "He will likely make such far-fetched claims again. I want to make it clear that I will no longer hold back out of consideration for appearances, and I will ensure accountability is made clear."

Regarding President Lee's remark—referring to the drop in Gangnam housing prices and the rise in outer-area prices as "a kind of flattening process is underway"—Mayor Oh said, "I am deeply concerned about the mindset underlying his expression."

He further noted, "When the common people experience extreme suffering due to disappearing jeonse (lump-sum housing deposit) supplies, rising deposits, and surging monthly rent, and decide out of self-preservation that they must buy apartments in outer areas, it drives up home prices. At a time when you should receive detailed reports on this heartbreaking phenomenon and come up with alternatives, how much frustration and pain must many citizens have felt watching a press conference claiming 'past government policies are not at fault'?"

Meanwhile, regarding the plan to supply housing at Yongsan Park, Mayor Oh mentioned, "I understand that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport also conducted a public opinion poll, but it is failing to release the results."

He pointed out, "It is only right to disclose survey results if you have conducted them. Why are you unable to reveal them? I issue another warning that if you stubbornly and barbarically proceed with converting green spaces into residential land, ignoring public opinion, you will face strong national resistance."
 
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.