[Local Election Interview] Oh Se-hoon: "The Next Four Years Are the Golden Time for Seoul's Balanced Development"

Interview with Oh Se-hoon, People Power Party Candidate for Seoul Mayor
Pushing for Housing Supply Innovation as Top Priority
"Full-Scale Roadmap to Break Ground on 310,000 Units by 2031"

"I believe the next four years will be the golden time for Seoul's balanced development."

Oh Sehun, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor, is introducing his strengths at his election campaign office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Oh’s campaign team

On May 28, Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor, emphasized the importance of "balanced development between Gangnam and Gangbuk" in a written interview with The Asia Business Daily. During his previous tenure as Seoul mayor, Oh advocated for the "Gangbuk Renaissance Era." He commented, "Over the past five years, I believe we opened the floodgates for Gangbuk’s development through fast-track integrated planning, normalization of redevelopment and reconstruction, and expansion of transportation infrastructure." However, he added, "Yet, the gap between Gangnam and Gangbuk still feels significant for citizens." Oh went on to state, "In the 9th popularly elected administration, balanced development between Gangnam and Gangbuk will not just be a slogan, but will become Seoul’s top growth strategy."

He also presented concrete plans for achieving balanced development. Oh said, "Through Season 2 of the Fast-Track Integrated Planning, we will apply much bolder incentives and regulatory innovations to redevelopment projects in Gangbuk and the southwestern area." He continued, "By actively advancing high-density, mixed-use development in station influence areas, upzoning, and comprehensive development of semi-industrial districts, we will reduce the number of redevelopment projects that are stalled due to lack of profitability." In addition, he plans to transform Gangbuk’s transportation system through projects such as the Gangbuk Transversal Line, the Mokdong Line, and the undergrounding of the Naebu Ring Road and Bukbu Expressway. Large-scale projects like the Chang-dong and Sanggye Seoul Arena, the Yongsan International Business District, and waterfront revitalization will be positioned as key bases for Gangbuk’s economic resurgence.

For funding, Oh plans to utilize the "Gangbuk Renaissance Fund," which includes public contribution fees. Profits from development in areas like the southeast, where infrastructure is already established, will be invested in Gangbuk. Oh stressed, "The important thing is to dispel the misconception that we are 'taking away from Gangnam.' Gangbuk is Seoul’s growth plate with high potential." He added, "The added value generated from Gangbuk’s development can also greatly benefit Gangnam." He explained, "We will ensure Gangnam’s development proceeds more smoothly as well, and by reinvesting the resulting public contributions into transportation, cultural, and environmental infrastructure, the overall quality of life in Seoul will improve. This will create a virtuous cycle, returning greater urban competitiveness and asset value to Gangnam residents, too."

Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party's candidate for Seoul mayor, is participating in a Q&A session at the "Seoul Mayor Candidate Invitation Kwanhoon Debate" held on the 20th at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

If elected in this race, Oh would become the first five-term Seoul mayor under direct election. Asked about his first priority after taking office, he replied, "What matters more than the record of serving five terms is actually changing the lives of Seoul’s citizens. I will push for innovation in housing supply and fully launch the roadmap to start construction on a total of 310,000 units by 2031." He continued, "We will designate 85 zones with 85,000 units that can break ground within three years as core supply projects and manage them intensively. By processing project implementation approval and management disposition approval simultaneously through 'Quickspeed Integration,' we will dramatically reduce redevelopment timelines." Additionally, he plans to introduce "Fast-Track AI Planning," utilizing artificial intelligence to conduct cross-verification by 11 committees and 27 checks from the planning stage, thereby reducing repeat rejections and administrative delays.

The goal he most wants to achieve in his fifth term is to make Seoul "a special city for quality of healthy life." Oh stated, "We will more closely connect policies that care for both the body and mind of citizens, such as 'Wrist Doctor 9988,' 'Mind Convenience Store,' and 'Seoul Without Loneliness.' Simply by living in Seoul, people will walk more, receive counseling more easily, and benefit from safer, more accessible care. I want to create a truly healthy city."

Oh also criticized the Democratic Party’s "Party-Government-Office Unity" theory. He said, "While it may sound efficient, in reality, it amounts to reducing the Seoul mayor to a subordinate official of the central government. What Seoul needs is not a mayor who blindly follows the president, but one who stands for the citizens and speaks up even to the president when necessary."

As his strength, Oh cited being "a person whose capabilities have already been verified." He emphasized, "Seoul is a vast living space and a global city where housing, transportation, jobs, balanced development, urban competitiveness, and relations with the central government are all intertwined. The only person truly qualified to complete Seoul as a city of quality of life is Oh Se-hoon, who knows Seoul best, has already delivered results, and can focus solely on the citizens without worrying about anyone else's opinion."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.