Jung Wono: "30-Minute Commute" vs. Oh Sehoon: "310,000 Housing Units Supply"

Seoul Mayoral Candidates Intensify Pledge Battle
Vying for Voters with Transportation and Housing Policies

Jung Wono, the Democratic Party candidate for Seoul mayor, and Oh Sehun, the People Power Party candidate, who are competing for the Seoul mayoral seat, each announced transportation and housing pledges on the 7th in an effort to win over voters.

Jung Wono, the Democratic Party candidate for Seoul mayor, and Oh Sehun, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor, are having a conversation at the 54th Parents' Day celebration hosted by the Korea Senior Citizens Association Seoul Chapter, held on the 6th at Jangchung Gymnasium in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

On the morning of the same day, Jung held a press conference at the National Assembly communication center and unveiled his vision of “an uninterrupted rail network, non-discriminatory regional development, borderless metropolitan transportation, and a mega-city Seoul.” The key components of his comprehensive strategy to reduce transportation costs and improve mobility efficiency across the entire Seoul metropolitan area include establishing a grid (#)-shaped railway network, introducing metropolitan transfer hubs, constructing new expressways, and adopting the “K-Climate Companion Card for All.”

In order to achieve a “30-minute commute” city, Jung plans to significantly expand the railway network in the northern part of Seoul by constructing a new eastern line connecting Suyu-dong in Gangbuk to Seoul Sports Complex in Gangnam. The goal is to connect all of Seoul and achieve balanced development between the northern and southern parts of the city. Additionally, to alleviate congestion on metropolitan buses, Jung will set up a metropolitan bus transfer hub at Yangjae Meeting Plaza and will build a new urban expressway in the northwest, where arterial roads are lacking. Jung explained, “We will reduce the burden of mobility for citizens and make daily life in Seoul more convenient.”

On the same morning, Oh visited the Daerim 1 District redevelopment site in Yeongdeungpo and announced his housing supply pledge. The main point is to resolve complex administrative procedures and break ground for a total of 310,000 housing units by 2031. To achieve this, 85 districts with 85,000 units that can begin construction within three years will be designated as “core strategic redevelopment zones” and managed intensively.

Furthermore, in order to accelerate the supply process, the formation of a promotion committee will be omitted, and a “rapid integration” track will be introduced, allowing for simultaneous approval of project implementation and management disposition plans. Guidelines will also be provided so that decisions on architectural plans, cost-sharing, and other issues, as well as the project implementation and management disposition plans, can proceed in parallel. In Gangbuk, a business feasibility adjustment factor will be applied to give floor area ratio incentives of up to 40%, and height restrictions in altitude districts will also be abolished. Oh stated, “Regions that have been relatively neglected in development will become the new focal point of housing supply in Seoul.”

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