Jung Won-oh, the Democratic Party's candidate for Seoul mayor, stated that it is unwise for the mayor, as the head of local government, to be embroiled in political conflicts.
Speaking at a discussion hosted by the Broadcasting Journalists Club in Mok-dong, Yangcheon-gu, on May 19, Jung emphasized, "The place for the mayor to stand is not in the midst of political disputes but in the midst of people's livelihoods."
He added, "If discussions are heading in a direction that is very different from citizens' opinions or does not align with judicial justice, then it is necessary to voice those opinions on behalf of the citizens." He noted that while discussions are currently stalled, he intends to actively represent citizens' views when they resume.
When asked to evaluate the real estate policies of the Lee Jae-myung administration, Jung responded, "I believe we need to reach at least a turning point to make a judgment. It is difficult to assign scores at this time."
Jung pointed out that since President Yoon Suk-yeol took office, the housing market has seen a sharp rise in prices due to the reversal of the land transaction permit system by Oh Se-hoon, the candidate from the People Power Party. He noted that while the Lee administration's policies, such as those implemented on June 27 and November 5, had somewhat stabilized housing prices, there has been a recent uptick in market activity.
He stressed that the key issue is how consistently the Seoul mayor, the city government, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the national government send signals. "If we do not speak with one voice, the market could become unstable, leading to uncontrollable housing price increases," he warned.
Regarding his pledge to provide property tax relief for single homeowners without income, Jung stated, "Since it is a relief on the increase, there should not be significant issues in securing funding," explaining that the burden would be shared between the districts and the city of Seoul.
On the matter of reducing the long-term holding special deduction and increasing property taxes, he asserted, "It is clear that the current rights of single homeowners must be protected," emphasizing that actions should be taken from the perspective of citizens and within the bounds of common sense.
In response to criticisms labeling his urban development plans as 'Park Won-soon’s Urban Regeneration Season 2,' Jung countered, "My approach to urban regeneration balances development and preservation, focusing on creative and citizen-led initiatives." He expressed opposition to superficial urban regeneration efforts that merely involve painting murals, arguing that areas needing new construction should be developed, while those suitable for remodeling should be remodeled.
Additionally, Jung identified 'administrative direction and philosophy' as issues under Oh Se-hoon's administration. He stated, "The citizens should be the owners, and we must do what they want, but the current administration operates as if the mayor is the owner." He concluded by praising the swift designation of maintenance zones through rapid integrated planning and the small-scale housing maintenance project ideas through the 'Moa Town' initiative.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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