The Lee administration and the ruling party are drawing speculation that they are bypassing Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon in housing policy. They are considering shifting redevelopment and reconstruction authority for projects of 500 homes or fewer to district chiefs, which would weaken the mayor’s role. The dispute is also playing out over Yongsan Park, where the government is reviewing limited housing development while Oh strongly opposes apartments in the park. A real estate expert said the administration appears to be working around Oh on housing policy.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon speaks in a video filmed at the Yongsan Children’s Garden in Seoul, Monday, explaining the city government’s opposition to the proposed housing development on the Yongsan Park site. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government
The government and ruling party are drawing speculation that they are sidelining Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon in their push to expand housing supply.
Housing demand is most concentrated in the nation’s capital due to the heavy concentration of population, jobs and urban conveniences, making the Seoul mayor a key local government partner in the central government's bid to address housing supply.
But Cheong Wa Dae, the Cabinet and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) appear to be finding ways to bypass Oh rather than consulting him on housing supply policies for Seoul.
