Oh Se-hoon: "Don't Blame Seoul City for Real Estate Failures... It's the Moon Administration's Fault"

"Central Government Shows No Reflection on Stubborn and Unchanging Real Estate Policy" Criticism
Ruling Party: "Disrespectful Attitude at National Audit" vs Oh: "Disrespectful? No!" Heated Exchange at One Point

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon on the 20th pointed out that the cause of the rise in housing prices is due to the failures of the Moon Jae-in administration, saying, "Do not shift the government's real estate mismanagement onto Seoul City."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the same day, at the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee’s audit, in response to a question from Kim Hoe-jae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, asking, "Seoul's housing prices are rising, so why are you worrying about someone else's Daejang-dong?" Mayor Oh said, "It seems you have prepared various data to find the cause of the real estate price increase at Seoul City Hall, but it is biased and a one-sided claim."

Mayor Oh referred to charts and said, "Housing prices started to rise sharply from the 9.13 measures in September 2018, the 12.16 measures in December 2019, and the capital gains tax strengthening on July 10, 2020, and increased significantly after the introduction of the three lease laws. The trend of housing price changes is the same not only in Seoul but also in Gyeonggi Province," emphasizing this point.

Mayor Oh pointed out, "In my opinion, the rise in real estate prices is because this government recklessly strengthened real estate taxation. Secondly, the three lease laws raised monthly rent and jeonse (key money deposit), leading to a rise in sales prices and creating a chain reaction of price increases." He also said, "Thirdly, it is because various redevelopment projects were restricted," and added, "Please do not shift the government's real estate mismanagement onto Seoul City."

He continued, "I feel very sorry and regretful about the rise in real estate prices, but when I look at the questions from the members, there is no reflection at all on the central government's stubborn and unchanging real estate policies," he criticized.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

After Mayor Oh’s response, loud voices were exchanged between ruling and opposition party members in the audit hall. Especially as opposition members continued to question Mayor Oh about Daejang-dong, ruling party members protested, saying, "This is currently the Seoul City audit."

Democratic Party member Kim Gyo-heung said, "If you want to ask about the Daejang-dong issue, please go to Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, and ask the governor of Gyeonggi Province," and criticized, "I hope you do not lower the dignity or politicize this matter."

Another member of the same party, Shin Dong-geun, said, "This is the first time I have seen opposition members and heads of audited institutions seemingly coordinating to point out issues of institutions in other regions," and criticized, "It is not new facts, but just rehashing what has already been published in newspapers, so even within the People Power Party, there are comments that this is pathetic."

Meanwhile, loud voices were exchanged during the audit on this day.

When Kim Gyo-heung said, "Ten million Seoul citizens must be watching, but you are too high-handed," Mayor Oh interrupted and responded. Kim then said, "I am speaking. The mayor of Seoul is lecturing the members," and raised his voice, "How can you conduct an audit with such disrespectful attitude?"

Mayor Oh did not back down and retorted, "Disrespectful?!" Kim again shouted, "What are you doing now? Shouting is not everything!" Mayor Oh asked, "Please refrain from loud voices and shouting. I am also in the position of Seoul mayor representing ten million citizens," to which Kim shouted, "Is this the attitude of the representative of ten million citizens?" Eventually, Mayor Oh said, "I apologize."

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