[2022 National Audit] Seoul's Full Survey of Semi-basement Homes Downgraded to Sample Survey... Oh Se-hoon "Will Was Ahead"

Democratic Party Rep. Maeng Seong-gyu Questions Background of Withdrawing Full Survey Policy on Semi-basements at National Audit

On the 14th, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon attended the National Assembly audit on Seoul City held at the Seoul City Hall Grand Conference Room in Jung-gu, Seoul, and provided a work report. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Regarding the Seoul Metropolitan Government's policy to change the full survey of semi-basement houses to a sample survey method, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon stated on the 14th that "the intention was ahead of the circumstances."

At the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee's audit targeting Seoul City Hall on the same day, when Democratic Party lawmaker Maeng Seong-gyu pointed out that Seoul's original plan to survey all 200,000 households was changed to 1,102 people + α, Mayor Oh responded accordingly.

Lawmaker Maeng mentioned, "In relation to the deaths of citizens caused by the heavy rain concentrated in the Seoul area in August this year, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it would conduct a full survey of 200,000 underground and semi-basement houses throughout Seoul and announced 'safety measures for households living in underground and semi-basement residences.'" He added that the Seoul Metropolitan Government also revealed the full survey policy for semi-basement houses in a cooperation letter sent to the 24 district offices in Seoul.

Lawmaker Maeng pointed out, "However, in the 'Support Measures for Semi-basement Households - Phase 1 Survey and Implementation Plan' announced on October 5, the survey method was changed," and questioned, "Wasn't the full survey changed to a sample survey to reduce costs because the full survey was too expensive?"

Regarding the change in survey methods, Mayor Oh explained, "There were limitations in manpower and budget." When Lawmaker Maeng asked again, "Was the announcement incorrect?" Mayor Oh admitted that the original plan for a full survey of 200,000 households was unrealistic, saying, "The intention was ahead of the circumstances."

Concerns were also raised about whether the sample survey of semi-basement houses in Gyeongju could be conducted properly. Lawmaker Maeng said, "The sample is limited to a specific class, so it is difficult to consider it representative of the entire population, and there are no separate items to investigate the housing characteristics of a specific class, so it is questionable whether the survey can well represent the characteristics of the specific target."

In response, Mayor Oh explained, "Not only public officials but also the Korea Association of Architects will participate and spend detailed time conducting the survey," adding, "We carefully investigated what kind of assistance would be most helpful, whether remodeling or relocation is necessary."

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