Choi Jae-hyung Visits Seoul, Meets Mayor Oh Se-hoon: "Impressive Relationship with City Council... Discussed Real Estate and Small Business Issues"

Former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung is visiting Seoul City Hall in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 19th to meet and greet Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung, who is running as a presidential candidate for the People Power Party, visited Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon on the morning of the 19th to congratulate him on his election as mayor and discuss current issues such as Seoul city administration, real estate, and small business policies.

At 9:30 a.m. that day, Choi, accompanied by Kim Young-woo, former People Power Party lawmaker and chief of staff for Choi’s campaign, visited Seoul City Hall and met with Mayor Oh for about 30 minutes. After the visit, Choi said in a briefing, "I came today to express my gratitude for condolences on my father’s passing and to congratulate Mayor Oh on his election in the by-election."

He added, "I have been very impressed by how you have humbly persuaded the city council, which is dominated by the opposition, and managed various city affairs. Not only your relationship with the city council but also your cooperation with the central government on issues such as quarantine, real estate policies, and small business matters has been impressive, and I heard many good things from the mayor."

He continued, "When the new government takes office next year, it will have to manage state affairs under similar circumstances. Rather than pushing the government recklessly, it is necessary to discuss and persuade to find ways for the people to live comfortably. A leader should not unilaterally lead or only persuade with their own opinions but listen to the other side and sometimes persuade them as well. This was the takeaway from my conversation with Mayor Oh."

Regarding the controversy over leasing an apartment in Mok-dong, Seoul, to his child at a low price, he dismissed it as an issue already reviewed during the public official asset registration process.

Choi explained, "I suddenly moved into the official residence, so I was not in a position to lease it to someone else. My second daughter was not in a situation to live in a jeonse (long-term deposit lease) apartment, so I suggested she live in the house where I used to live. Since the rental deposit she had already paid might cause problems, this matter was reviewed and resolved during the public official asset registration process."

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