Early Voting Rates High in Seoul Redevelopment and Reconstruction Areas

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] It has been revealed that the early voting rates in the Seoul mayoral by-election were generally higher in autonomous districts with many redevelopment and reconstruction projects. This suggests that there was a high level of election interest in these areas, given that Seoul city’s policy direction directly affects such projects.

Among the 25 autonomous districts, Jongno-gu, which had the highest early voting rate (24.44%), is an area with many large-scale aging residential zones. The Sinmunno area in Jongno-gu was also included as a candidate site for public redevelopment promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Seoul city. Following Jongno-gu, Dongjak-gu had the next highest early voting rate (23.63%), with candidate sites such as Heukseok-dong and Bon-dong, and many apartment complexes undergoing reconstruction.

According to the National Election Commission, the early voting rate for the Seoul mayoral by-election on the 2nd and 3rd was 21.95%. By autonomous district, after Jongno-gu and Dongjak-gu, the early voting rates were high in Songpa-gu (23.37%), Seodaemun-gu (23.02%), Seongbuk-gu (22.97%), Yangcheon-gu (22.92%), Seocho-gu (22.56%), Mapo-gu (22.54%), Gangdong-gu (22.50%), Eunpyeong-gu (22.49%), and Nowon-gu (21.97%). Songpa-gu is a dense area for redevelopment and other maintenance projects, and its early voting rate rose by 3.78 percentage points compared to the 2018 local elections. Gangnam-gu and Seocho-gu also showed noticeable increases of 3.49 and 3.47 percentage points, respectively.

On the 30th of last month, Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate, mentioned at a debate hosted by the Central Election Broadcasting Debate Commission that he would "initiate private-led redevelopment and reconstruction within a week and produce results within a year," directly citing areas such as Mok-dong in Yangcheon-gu, Sanggye-dong in Nowon-gu, Apgujeong-dong in Gangnam-gu, and Yeouido-dong in Yeongdeungpo-gu. He also stated, "There are 24,800 housing units pending at the Urban Planning Committee by complex, including Daechi Eunma, Mido Apartments, Woosung Apartments, Jamsil Complex, Jayang, Hanyang, Bangbae 15, Yeouido Sibeom, Yeouido Gongjak, Sinbanpo, and Sadang."

Park Young-sun, the Democratic Party candidate, also advocates expanding housing supply through redevelopment and reconstruction, but differs in emphasizing public interest for rental housing complexes. At the same debate, Park said, "We will supply half-price apartments at 10 million won per pyeong to the homeless. We will start with 34 permanent rental housing complexes in the Gangbuk area that are over 30 years old," adding, "We will build and open public community facilities such as libraries and swimming pools to showcase an advanced country-style community model."

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