Oh Se-hoon Proposes Easing Floor-Area Ratio Regulations... Lee: "We Must Not Raise the Risk of a Housing Price Surge"

President Lee Jae-myung Chairs Cabinet Meeting on the 18th
Inquires About 'Supply Measures' to Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon
Regarding Oh's Claim of Opposing 'Apartments in Yongsan Park'
Blue House: "Not True, Have Not Heard of It"

President Lee Jae-myung told Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon during a Cabinet meeting on the 18th, "The goal is to increase supply, not to raise the possibility of a housing price surge."

Chief Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung stated that during the Cabinet meeting held at the Blue House that day, Mayor Oh, present as an attendee, proposed supply measures such as easing floor-area ratio regulations, relaxing restrictions on the transfer of association member status, and lowering the ratio of rental housing. In response, President Lee made the above remarks.

President Lee Jae-myung is declaring the opening of the 1st Eulji Cabinet Meeting at the Blue House on August 18, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News

President Lee reportedly asked Mayor Oh to confirm details—such as whether the authority to approve large-scale redevelopment and reconstruction projects, as well as small-scale individual buildings, lies with the district office or with the city—before inquiring about regulatory easing measures to boost private-sector housing supply.

After hearing Mayor Oh’s response, President Lee commented, "There are both positive and negative aspects," adding, "There may be a point where the positive aspects can be maximized and the negative ones minimized." He then instructed Prime Minister Han Sung-sook to "review and evaluate various opinions and identify ways to increase housing supply."

However, regarding Mayor Oh’s claim on social media after the Cabinet meeting that he "clearly expressed opposition to building apartments in Yongsan Park to the President," Chief Spokesperson Kang countered, "I have not heard anything about Yongsan Park."

Meanwhile, President Lee received a briefing from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on rapid housing supply measures and follow-up action plans. He subsequently instructed Prime Minister Han to "meet with construction companies, listen to their demands, work out solutions, and ensure all necessary actions are meticulously managed." He also advised, "While showing flexibility by accepting valid criticisms of policies, we must not be swayed by attempts to undermine the policy itself."

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