Seo Eun-hee, Seocho District Mayor's 'Refreshing' Real Estate Remarks Boost Her 'Status' Rapidly?

District Mayor Joeunhee's Promise on Property Tax for Homes Under 900 Million Won Sparks Call for Dialogue on Government's Pushy Real Estate Policies; Criticism of Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk's Apartment Reconstruction by UFP's Kim Woong; Government and Opposition United in Candid Remarks; Following Seocho's Yoon Heesook's '5-Minute Tenant Speech' Fame, National Figure Emerges

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Jo Eun-hee, the mayor of Seocho-gu, has attracted attention by making refreshingly straightforward remarks about the government's confusing real estate measures.

On the 11th, Mayor Jo proposed that property tax for homeowners with a single house valued under 900 million won should be reduced by half, which sparked a strong reaction. She also consecutively pointed out the government's lack of communication regarding real estate policies.

Mayor Jo stated, "As an economic downturn is expected due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), property tax should be cut in half to alleviate the financial burden on citizens."

On the 14th, Mayor Jo criticized the government's lack of communication on real estate policies. She said the government's announcement to build public housing on Seocho-gu land was a unilateral decision made without prior consultation.

On that day, Mayor Jo wrote on her Facebook, "The announcement to build public housing on the National Diplomatic Academy site and the Seoul Regional Public Procurement Service site in Seocho-gu was made unilaterally as if it were a military operation." She appealed to the government, saying, "Please, we ask for communication."

Mayor Jo added, "Seocho-gu is not the only one being isolated," noting that local government heads from the ruling party in Mapo, Nowon, Gwacheon, as well as pro-Moon politician Jeong Cheong-rae, have opposed the plan, and even the Seoul Metropolitan Government has raised objections. She argued, "Not only is there no cooperation with the opposition party, but even communication within the same party is lacking, so this government's real estate policy is bound to continue to falter."

Additionally, on the same day on Facebook, Mayor Jo stated, "Seocho-gu is not a local government that changes direction with a single phone call from a minister," and added, "After seeing reports that former Minister Cho Kuk and Assemblyman Kim Woong had a public dispute over reconstruction issues, I felt the need to clarify the facts."

Assemblyman Kim had raised suspicions on the 11th, questioning why reconstruction was progressing rapidly only in the apartment complex in Seocho-gu where former Minister Cho Kuk resides, despite the general reality that reconstruction is not proceeding well.

In response, Mayor Jo emphasized, "Assemblyman Kim's point that regulations are blocking reconstruction is absolutely correct," but added, "Former Minister Cho has never taken any action with Seocho-gu regarding the project approval for the apartment where he lives."

Mayor Jo continued, "Seocho-gu does not change reconstruction permits just because someone with much stronger power than former Minister Cho makes a phone call," and asserted, "No undue influence will ever work."

By taking a clear stance toward the government and opposition lawmakers within a day, Mayor Jo is emerging as a national figure rather than just one of the Seoul district mayors.

In particular, Yoon Hee-sook, a member of the Future United Party from Seocho-gu, rose to national stardom through a '5-minute speech' in the National Assembly plenary session on the 30th of last month when the Democratic Party passed the three real estate laws. It is evaluated that both the Seocho-gu member of the National Assembly and the mayor are playing a significant role in highlighting the government's failure in real estate policy.

Recently, regarding Mayor Jo's actions, there are also speculations that her remarks may be with the 2022 Seoul mayoral by-election in mind. This is because Jo, a two-term mayor and former Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs of Seoul during former Mayor Oh Se-hoon's administration, is receiving favorable evaluations from Seocho-gu residents.

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