Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon appeared on a broadcast today (31st) and sharply criticized President Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party of Korea.

Appearing on TV Chosun's "Gangjukdeul" on the 31st, Mayor Oh, a member of the People Power Party, said, "Looking at how the Lee Jae-myung administration governs, isn't it obvious that they have already seized executive power and now intend to place the judiciary under their feet as well?" Oh added, "Seeing this issue (the parliamentary investigation into Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae) makes me feel that the Democratic Party has lost any qualification to call itself a pro-democracy force," arguing that the party is practicing "rule by law" rather than the "rule of law."

He continued, "It has become ingrained in them to use their majority seats to enact nonsensical laws and trample on the spirit of the Constitution as a means of governance," adding, "Citizens are watching as talk of impeaching the [Chief Justice] finally emerges."

He also emphasized that the People Power Party must win future elections, stating, "We are powerless as they mock and insult the judiciary just because they lost elections."

Regarding the controversy surrounding the Hangang Bus project, Oh retorted, "The Hangang Bus is a hybrid means of transportation that combines the characteristics of public transit and a cruise ship. Can this really be a basis for criticism?"

He explained that the deficit recorded by the Hangang Bus last year was an expected outcome given the early stages of the business, and that this year's passenger numbers have more than doubled compared to the previous year.

Stating that actual revenue is generated from ancillary businesses such as food and beverage (F&B) operations at piers and advertisements, he said, "A surplus is expected by the end of next year."

Rebutting suspicions of kickbacks in the Hangang Bus project, he dismissed them by saying, "There was a shipyard introduction fee (brokerage commission), and people are confusing this with kickbacks."

To the Democratic Party's claim that part of the brokerage commission may have been funneled back as kickbacks, he cut it short by stating, "There is no evidence."

Regarding housing policy, he criticized the government's owner-occupancy-centered approach, arguing that loan regulations work to the advantage of cash-rich individuals.

Mayor Oh said, "The only thing the Seoul city government can do is supply housing," adding, "We must increase apartment volume through reconstruction and redevelopment, and guarantee profits for non-apartments like villas by granting generous floor area ratio incentives so that the construction industry will step in."

He also continued his criticism of former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon's housing policy.

Oh stated, "During former Mayor Park's 10-year term, 389 reconstruction and redevelopment project sites were dismantled," adding, "If you divide the 430,000 housing units whose supply opportunities disappeared over 20 years, it means the capacity to build 20,000 units per year was wiped out."

(Photo provided by Seoul Metropolitan Government, Yonhap News)