Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has once again made clear his opposition to plans to supply housing through the Yongsan Park site and the lifting of greenbelt restrictions.

Mayor Oh stated that redevelopment and reconstruction projects promoted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government can break ground on 310,000 households by 2031, of which 87,000 households represent a net increase, while urging government support.

Appearing on KBS program "Sasagungeon" this afternoon (the 10th), Mayor Oh expressed his opposition when asked about the possibility of supplying housing around the Yongsan Park Children's Garden, saying, "The Seoul Metropolitan Government does not hold the licensing authority. I am not voicing opposition because I have the authority, but rather stating a matter of principle."

Mayor Oh pointed out, "From the initial urban planning stages, Seoul has suffered from a severely insufficient green area ratio. Because Namsan, Bukhaksan, and Bugaksan are visible, people might mistakenly think green spaces are ample, but actual living-zone green spaces are extremely small compared to the average of major cities worldwide."

He added, "Fortunately, as the former US military base site in Yongsan became vacant, it became possible to turn it into green space, and a special law was even enacted to preserve it. Now, because housing conditions are tight, they are trying to touch the only remaining green space in the middle of the downtown area. There is no mayor anywhere in the world who would agree to such a thing."

Mayor Oh also showed a negative stance on the plan to build housing by lifting greenbelt restrictions within Seoul, calling it "unnecessary and undesirable."

In particular, he said, "Already two years ago during the administration of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, when the Seoul Metropolitan Government agreed to lift the greenbelt for Districts 1 and 2 of Seoripul, we clearly stated that this consent was the last batch. I hope that even the construction of 20,000 households already agreed upon by the Seoul Metropolitan Government will be faithfully implemented."

Mayor Oh introduced that he recently met with Kim Yong-beom, Senior Secretary to the President for Policy, to exchange views on expanding the development of semi-industrial areas in the southwestern region.

He explained that they discussed the proposal to "enhance the utility value of semi-industrial areas in Yeongdeungpo, Guro, and Geumcheon districts in the southwestern region," adding, "Through the southwestern region great transformation project, the Seoul Metropolitan Government is already pushing forward with a volume that can accommodate 27,000 households by raising the floor area ratio from 250% to 400%."

He continued, "For additional areas eligible, if the industrial complex ratio is lowered, landowners will move toward building apartments. I suggested revising the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport guidelines accordingly, and since Senior Secretary Kim nodded along, I expect it will likely be included in this measure."

Regarding the plan to expand housing in the Yongsan International Business District from the existing 6,000 households to 10,000 households, he said, "The name itself is the Yongsan International Business District," asserting that housing supply must be carried out within limits that do not contradict its original creation purpose.

Mayor Oh noted, "Regarding the initial agreement with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for 6,000 households, they (the ministry) brought up 10,000 households, so we have proposed a compromise of 8,000 households," adding that consultations with Yongsan-gu, which holds the licensing authority, will also be necessary.

Specifically, regarding President Lee Jae-myung showing a skeptical view on the supply effects of redevelopment and reconstruction, he directly countered, "He made completely mistaken remarks."

He stated, "When we conducted a complete census of completed and occupied redevelopment and reconstruction sites in Seoul over the past three years, the volume increased by 44% for reconstruction and 27% for redevelopment. We compiled a report containing these details into a white paper and delivered it to the presidential office."

He further argued, "Some 400 maintenance project sites are currently running in Seoul, and 310,000 households will break ground by 2031. With 22,000 households disappearing and 310,000 coming in, resulting in an increase of 87,000 households, this fact is being denied."

Regarding concerns that relocation demand during maintenance projects could stimulate the key money (jeonse) and monthly rent markets, he emphasized, "If we do not do it out of fear of those side effects, securing a net increase in volume is impossible. These are side effects that must inevitably be experienced during the project process. We cannot simply abandon projects out of fear of this."

He also stated that easing loan regulations for young adults and newlyweds, as well as easing relocation loan regulations for maintenance projects, is "essential," adding, "In the case of complexes facing relocation for redevelopment and reconstruction, relaxing loans will greatly help accelerate the work and supply a large volume of housing to Seoul."

Mayor Oh added that he is ready to meet with the government at any time to discuss housing supply, stating, "If the government simply does not hinder the redevelopment and reconstruction that the Seoul Metropolitan Government is diligently pursuing, it will be much more helpful in stabilizing the real estate market. I hope the government will help us a bit."

(Photo: Yonhap News)