Democratic Party: "Oh Se-hoon, resign if a conscience declaration comes out? The minutes are the conscience declaration"

Kim Tae-nyeon, Acting Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Central Election Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 22nd and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] The Democratic Party of Korea has demanded that Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party's candidate for Seoul mayor, resign over allegations related to the designation of the Naegok-dong Bogeumjari housing district. Citing Oh's statement, "Seoul city employees or SH (Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation) employees should immediately make a conscience declaration. Then I will resign as a candidate right away," they argue that the related meeting minutes reported are tantamount to a conscience declaration.

Choi In-ho, senior spokesperson for the Democratic Party's Central Election Committee, stated in a written briefing on the 22nd, "Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party's candidate for Seoul mayor, has claimed that the Greenbelt release and the designation of the Naegok-dong land as a Bogeumjari housing district were matters decided solely by the Housing Bureau director and that 'he was completely unaware.' However, all of this was a 'blatant lie.'"

Choi added, "Today, a media outlet reported the minutes of the Seoul City Council Urban Management Committee meeting held on October 16, 2009. The content pertains to inquiries about the Bogeumjari housing district project that Seoul City was promoting at the time."

He continued, "The Housing Bureau director, whom Oh Se-hoon referred to as the decision-maker, appears as the respondent. The director answered, '(Mayor Oh Se-hoon) wanted to create an eco-friendly residential complex, so the direction changed slightly.' Three days before this response, on October 13, 2009, during a National Assembly audit, when Rep. Kang Chang-il raised concerns about building height, Mayor Oh responded that 'Seoul City's opinions were conveyed during the consultation process.'"

Choi stated, "This shows that then-Mayor Oh Se-hoon was not only aware of the Greenbelt release area and the Bogeumjari housing policy but was actively involved and consulted with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Moreover, on February 12, 2007, while serving as mayor, Oh visited Seocho District Office and personally inspected the Naegok district, which was a planned site for rental housing development," emphasizing the point.

He added, "Candidate Oh was not unaware at all. He had known since 2007 about the Greenbelt release area including Naegok district and should be seen as having actively intervened in the Bogeumjari housing project process using his position as mayor."

Choi concluded, "The Seoul City Council meeting minutes from October 16, 2009, and the National Assembly Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs Committee audit minutes from October 13, 2009, are precisely that conscience declaration. Candidate Oh Se-hoon should resign immediately."

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