Oh Se-hoon, the Mayor of Seoul, announced during a National Assembly audit that 15,000 housing units in the city have begun construction this year. He expressed his commitment to continuous housing supply and stability in the rental market through revitalization of redevelopment projects.
In his opening remarks at the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee audit on October 19, Oh stated, "Sufficient and continuous supply is the starting point for reducing housing insecurity. We have accelerated redevelopment projects through rapid integrated planning."
He noted, "This year, 15,000 units have actually started construction, and the first completion of shared housing occurred last August. The supply foundation we have steadily built is now finally leading to construction and occupancy."
Oh emphasized, "We will continue to address difficulties on the ground and eliminate unreasonable regulations to ensure uninterrupted housing supply."
He also highlighted his commitment to stabilizing the rental market, stating, "We will alleviate the burden of housing costs and expand the foundation for private rental housing to support stability in the rental market."
Oh presented transportation, culture, and leisure policies centered around the Han River as key achievements. He said, "We will develop the Han River into a representative living space in Seoul where transportation, culture, and leisure converge."
He explained that the cumulative number of passengers on the Han River bus, which began regular operations in September last year, has surpassed 700,000, and in September of this year, the waterfront cultural space of Nodeul Global Art Island was opened to the public.
Regarding regional balanced development, he stated plans to create a cultural industry hub centered around the Changdong Seoul Arena to drive new growth in the northeastern region. He also plans to activate the nighttime economy through initiatives like 'Seoul Moonlight Night Market' and the nighttime opening of cultural facilities.
Oh stressed the importance of addressing citizen health and social isolation issues. He stated that he aims to improve the quality of life for citizens in response to rapid aging and social changes such as loneliness and isolation. He specifically mentioned the 'Wrist Doctor 9988' initiative to promote exercise as a natural habit and continued support for citizens whose social connections have been severed.
In the area of urban safety, he announced plans to shift from a reactive approach to a preventive management system. This includes expanding ground-penetrating radar (GPR) surveys to prevent ground subsidence and enhancing safety inspections at public and private construction sites, as well as strengthening crime response capabilities and safety infrastructure in daily life.
Oh concluded, "The Seoul city government will not evaluate the success of policies solely based on the number and scale of projects. The most important criteria will be how much citizens' lives have actually improved and how they perceive those changes." He added, "The National Assembly audit is a valuable opportunity, and I will listen carefully to the members' comments and faithfully reflect on the necessary areas."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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