Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, facing criticism over the causes of housing shortages in Seoul, has criticized the cancellation of redevelopment zones during former Mayor Park Won-soon's administration, comparing it to farming.

During today's (October 19) parliamentary audit of the Seoul Metropolitan Government by the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, Mayor Oh used a prepared chart to push back against Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Chang Jong-tae's criticism that housing supply performance in areas outside of Gangnam decreased during Oh's tenure.

Lawmaker Chang pointed out that, based on an analysis of data from the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the monthly average completion volume before and after Mayor Oh took office increased by 11.5% in the three Gangnam districts, while dropping by 43% across the remaining 22 autonomous districts.

Chang also noted that approval figures fell by 5.3% in the three Gangnam districts and by 14.5% in the other 22 districts, demanding, "You must first explain why approvals outside of Gangnam plummeted during your term."

In response, Mayor Oh said, "As 389 redevelopment and reconstruction zones were forcibly canceled under Mayor Park Won-soon, approximately 430,000 housing units vanished," adding, "It was inevitable that project implementation authorizations, management disposal authorizations, relocations, groundbreakings, and completions would sequentially drop 5, 10, and 15 years later, and that impact is still being felt today."

Mayor Oh argued, "Almost 70% or more of the approvals for the volume completed during Mayor Park's tenure were actually issued during my first term," and claimed, "Everything that was approved, broke ground, or made progress under Mayor Park entirely benefited from the projects initiated back when I was mayor."

Mayor Oh also criticized the former administration by comparing urban renewal projects to farming.

"I would like to use this analogy," Oh said. "I planted the seeds, but just as the stems were sprouting, the city administration was handed over to Mayor Park. They completely uprooted those sprouting stems and even applied herbicide before leaving."

Oh emphasized, "Now that I have returned, I am cultivating the field, planting seeds, and reaching the stage where the stems are rising once again," adding, "For the redevelopment and reconstruction projects currently underway to continue, the government must also provide fertilizer and help us pull the weeds together."

Mayor Oh also urged the National Assembly, saying, "I hope you will give us a lot of help."

(Photo: Yonhap News)