Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon criticized that "real estate issues are the primary cause of the decline in President Lee Jae-myung's approval rating," adding, "President Lee must take responsibility for making jeonse housing supplies disappear."

Mayor Oh made these remarks during an appearance on Sisa Journal TV on September 19, referring to President Lee's press conference held the previous day.

Mayor Oh assessed, "The current administration's policies will only continue to drive up real estate prices rather than bring them down," noting, "At the press conference the day before, there was no sign of a shift in direction (for real estate policy)."

He also reiterated his rebuttal against President Lee pointing to Mayor Oh and others as the cause of the surge in Seoul's real estate prices during the press conference.

Mayor Oh claimed he had explained the matter to President Lee multiple times, saying, "Former Mayor Park Won-soon lifted the designations for all 389 redevelopment and reconstruction zones in Seoul, wiping out the entire potential supply of 430,000 housing units."

Regarding President Lee Jae-myung's mention of "leveling" during the press conference concerning real estate policy, Oh pointed out, "The skyrocketing prices in areas like Seoul's northeastern and southwestern districts send a message to working-class people to 'suffer and die,'" adding, "Glossing it over by using the word 'leveling' is an irresponsible remark."

Regarding Seoul's jeonse crisis, he stated, "It is entirely a situation created by the president," adding, "The obsession with actual residency has resulted in a catastrophe where jeonse listings have vanished."

He continued, "The president appears to harbor excessive hostility toward jeonse simply because it is used in gap investing," asserting, "The president must take responsibility for causing jeonse supply to disappear."

Mayor Oh emphasized, "Demonizing homeowners and treating someone who owns a single home but does not live in it as sinful is merely his own logic," adding, "If real estate policy is driven by election calculations or seeks short-term effects, the market will never forgive it."

Regarding the resignation of Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won, Mayor Oh commented on that day, "It is insufficient to view this as a sign that (the president) is abandoning the dropping of indictments."

Regarding the audio recording of a phone call between Myung Tae-kyun and Kim Han-jeong being admitted as evidence in his trial over allegations of having third parties pay for opinion polls, Oh remarked, "Considerably strong evidence (of innocence) has emerged," anticipating, "Now that it has been admitted as legal evidence, I believe (the court) will take it into account."

Regarding the Lee Jae-myung administration's comprehensive survey on farmland, he criticized, "There are likely as many reasons for farmers leasing out land rather than cultivating it directly as there are farmers," asking, "Hasn't the creation of single-stock ETFs also failed to find its proper footing right now?"

Regarding the concept of building housing in Yongsan Park, he reiterated his opposition, asserting, "Not even 1 cm of Yongsan Park should be touched."

Regarding the Future Response Fund being established based on the semiconductor tax revenue boom, he commented, "I believe it is a misguided decision."

Mayor Oh pointed out that amid worsening inflation, focus should be placed on reducing the national debt, stating, "The Lee Jae-myung administration has chosen the exact opposite path."

(Photo: Yonhap News)