Opposition Attacks Government's Real Estate Tax Plan... Oh Sehoon Joins the Offensive

People Power Party Invites Oh to Floor Strategy Meeting,
Forming a Joint Front with Seoul Metropolitan Government
Oh: "The Government Must Stop Oppressive Tax Increases and Expand Supply"
Seoul Lawmakers Also Call for Policy Revisions at Forum

The People Power Party has launched a full-scale offensive targeting the government's proposed real estate tax reforms. By inviting Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon to its floor leaders' meeting, the party established a joint front with the Seoul Metropolitan Government and sought to tap into public sentiment on real estate issues, increasing pressure on both the government and the ruling party.

On August 14 at the National Assembly, the People Power Party held a floor leaders' meeting attended by Mayor Oh, focusing its criticism on the government's real estate tax and supply policies. The party highlighted the problems with stricter taxation for non-resident single homeowners and long-term owners, while emphasizing the need to expand supply through redevelopment and reconstruction projects.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon (center in photo) is speaking at the People Power Party's floor leaders' meeting held at the National Assembly on August 14, 2026. Photo by Hyunmin Kim

Mayor Oh stated, "The government must completely reconsider its real estate policies, including tax reforms that fixate on primary residence, and must immediately stop the aggressive tax hikes that effectively shift responsibility for policy failures onto the public."

Floor Leader Chung added, "For the Seoul metropolitan area, we need to send a stable supply signal by revitalizing reconstruction and redevelopment. In the regions, we should stimulate private sector demand by easing regulations on multiple homeownership and providing tax and financial support."

The opposition's offensive has coincided with calls for improvements to the government's proposal from within the ruling party. At a Democratic Party caucus held the previous day, lawmakers from the metropolitan area reportedly voiced concerns over public dissatisfaction with real estate policies and called for revisions to the government proposal. The People Power Party has announced plans to rectify what it sees as excessive or unreasonable components of the government's proposal during the upcoming session's tax law review.

However, subtle tensions were detected within the party regarding Mayor Oh's attendance at the meeting. It was reported that Secretary General Chung Hee-yong, who is affiliated with the Jang Dong-hyuk faction, expressed concerns over the Seoul Mayor participating in the party's official floor leaders' meeting instead of a separate policy roundtable. Mayor Oh is known as one of the party's key figures who clashed with Party Leader Jang Dong-hyuk during the previous local elections.

After the floor leaders' meeting, Seoul-based lawmakers including Kwon Young-se, Na Kyung-won, and Seo Myeong-ok held an emergency forum at the National Assembly building to critically examine the real estate tax reform proposal and further support the party's comprehensive offensive against the government policies.

Assemblywoman Seo pointed out, "While the government claims to protect primary residents, ultimately, these double-layered policies only increase the burden on certain groups."

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