Nosikrae Seoul City Councilor Asks Mayor Oh Se-hoon, "How Will the Yongsan Maintenance Depot Development Be Handled?"

Assemblyman Nosikrae, "City Council Must Prevent Regression of Seoul City Administration" "Citizens Concerned About Exclusion from Participation, Watching and Supporting City Council"... Asserted Through 303rd Regular Session City Administration Questions

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seoul Metropolitan Council member Noh Sik-rae (Democratic Party, Yongsan 2) asserted on the afternoon of the 17th during the 303rd regular session’s administrative inquiry that “the Seoul Metropolitan Council must prevent the regression of Seoul city administration.”

Member Noh Sik-rae stated, “Since Mayor Oh Se-hoon took office, Seoul citizens have been concerned about the contraction of resident autonomy and the exclusion of citizen participation. More citizens than ever are closely watching and supporting the council,” adding, “As representatives of the residents, the council must respond to the voices of the citizens.”

He continued, “Three years ago, at the first regular session of the 10th council, I exchanged opinions with the late Mayor Park Won-soon regarding key issues to be pursued during his term,” and said, “Considering next year’s election schedule, this regular session is likely to be the last administrative inquiry. I intend to review the progress of the matters requested three years ago and address concerns for the remaining term.”

In the early part of the administrative inquiry, Member Noh exchanged views with Mayor Oh Se-hoon on the Yongsan Maintenance Depot redevelopment project, which balances international competitiveness, public interest, and sustainability; measures to expand and strengthen citizen participation for the complete establishment of Yongsan Park; the relaxation of height restrictions in the Namsan protected district; and communication issues with residents regarding the Seoul Station Gosiwon (small lodging) redevelopment project.

He then cited the Gwanghwamun Plaza development project, which was expanded during the audit period, and the social housing project, which underwent additional audits following criticism of the YouTube channel Oh Se-hoon TV, pointing out that procedural legitimacy has been difficult to find in Seoul city administration since Mayor Oh’s inauguration.

He also claimed that due to a 70% budget cut for the Urban Regeneration Support Center and the unilateral slashing of the citizen deliberation budget, citizens have gathered in front of the council holding placards stating “In 2011, refusal of free school meals; in 2021, refusal of citizen participation.”

Member Noh Sik-rae emphasized, “It is time for the council to step in and correct the budgetary authority that has been misused, ignoring the steadily expanding citizen participation and fiscal democracy over the past decade, and the privatized budget,” and concluded his administrative inquiry by urging, “Only then will the Seoul Metropolitan Council firmly establish itself as the true hall of public opinion for Seoul citizens.”

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