Kim Hyunki, Gangnam District Mayor Candidate: "Correcting Discrimination and Delivering Service-Oriented Administration for a Major Transformation in Gangnam"

"On My First Day, I Will Establish a Redevelopment and Reconstruction Administrative Support Team"
[Interview] People Power Party Candidate Kim Hyunki for Gangnam District Mayor

"The days when Gangnam could prosper by simply sitting back are over. Gangnam must change its way of thinking. I will awaken Gangnam's stagnant engine, correct all irregularities, and set it running again."

This was the key message emphasized by former Seoul Metropolitan Council Chairman Kim Hyunki during a one-hour interview at his campaign office in Dogok-dong, Gangnam District, Seoul, on the afternoon of May 13. Kim, the People Power Party candidate for Gangnam District Mayor in the June 3 local elections, began his political career in 1988 as a National Assembly aide, served four terms as a Seoul Metropolitan Council member, and was the 11th Seoul Metropolitan Council chairman. He has presented "accelerating Gangnam's urban redevelopment projects" and "ending reverse discrimination against Gangnam" as his core campaign pledges.

Kim Hyunki, candidate for mayor of Gangnam District, announced his vision in an interview with The Asia Business Daily, stating, "I will definitely achieve the great transformation of Gangnam." Photo by the election office.

"Every day, I leave home at 5:15 a.m., attend Mass at the church at 6 a.m., and greet parishioners. After Mass, I visit another church to offer greetings, then move to a nearby intersection and stand with a picket sign for over an hour to greet residents on their way to work."

Kim explained that at 9:30 a.m. and around 2 p.m. each day, he spends an hour in his office meeting with residents, and during other times, he visits markets, restaurants, and other local sites. This has been his daily routine for three months since the start of the party's primary at the end of February.

-What is your unique strength as a candidate?

The district mayor is the official closest to residents' daily lives. Every redevelopment petition, every alleyway, and every welfare center budget impacts the lives of Gangnam residents. The role is fundamentally different from that of the metropolitan council chairman. I hope people will see that my experience in overseeing and monitoring executive agencies has prepared me to work closely with residents.

Gangnam currently has a glamorous appearance, but its growth has stagnated. In the National Assembly, I handled national affairs; as a Seoul Metropolitan Council member for 16 years, I worked on city administration and educational policy. The network I built as council chairman with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, central ministries, and the National Assembly is a major strength.

When I meet with residents, many say, "The People Power Party must do better," or "Stop fighting," out of affection. I tell them to separate the conflicts among central politicians from the local elections—this is an election to choose a worker for the community.

-You pledged to end 'reverse discrimination against Gangnam' as your main campaign slogan. What specific issues does this refer to, and what changes can you bring as district mayor?

Of the 25 districts in Seoul, each collects 50% of its property tax and the total is divided equally among all districts. Gangnam District pays about 300 billion won annually but receives only a few tens of billions in return—about one-tenth of what it pays. This does not align with the principles of local autonomy or the universality of taxation. On top of that, Gangnam faces multiple overlapping regulations.

The amount of property tax and comprehensive real estate tax paid by Gangnam residents is overwhelmingly high. But where does that money go? A significant portion is used for infrastructure in other districts. Also, the policy of expanding the use of public contribution funds is another prime example of reverse discrimination. Public contribution funds generated from Gangnam's development are being diverted to revitalize other districts.

The money I pay is not used in my own neighborhood. That is reverse discrimination. Moreover, under the government's "1·29 policy," the relocation of the Gangnam District Office was announced without any prior consultation with the district. This undermines the spirit of local autonomy guaranteed by the Constitution. How long must Gangnam be dragged along like this? I am committed to bringing change.

I will officially propose to the Seoul Metropolitan Government clear criteria for operating public contribution funds and increasing the proportion returned to Gangnam. Increased property tax revenue will be recycled back to Gangnam residents through senior care, youth housing, and community-focused welfare services. Within the authority of the district mayor, I will actively implement measures to defer property tax payments for single-homeowners who are elderly or low-income, and greatly improve payment convenience. For matters requiring legislative changes, I will continue to petition the National Assembly and the government. The network I built as council chairman will be a great help in these efforts.

-If elected, what will be your first priority?

My first action will be to establish an administrative support organization for reconstruction and redevelopment projects under the direct control of the district mayor. One of the main reasons redevelopment projects are delayed is the slow processing of permits within the district office. Each department has its own issues to coordinate, and if the person in charge changes, the process starts over from scratch.

Conflicts within the associations also play a role. From the perspective of the redevelopment associations, a single day's delay can mean hundreds of millions of won in financial costs. On my first day in office, I will approve the establishment of an organization to support reconstruction and redevelopment permit-related tasks and assign dedicated officials. There will also be dedicated teams for each complex. My goal is to dramatically shorten the time it takes from receiving to processing permit documents within my term. I will show that Gangnam can change with this first decision.

-Many of the key powers for redevelopment permits lie with the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. How much can you actually do as district mayor?

That's correct. The major hurdles in reconstruction are the institutional powers of the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Ministry of Land, such as market regulations, zoning upgrades, floor area ratio negotiations, and project implementation approvals. These cannot be solved by the district mayor alone.

This is why the district mayor's network and negotiation skills are even more important. There is actually more the district mayor can do directly than people think. I will make the district's permit process itself more efficient. Also, many projects are stalled due to internal conflicts within associations. The district office will directly operate services such as dispatching conflict mediation experts, providing consulting for general meetings, and matching legal and accounting experts.

I will personally participate in negotiations with the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Ministry of Land. For major sites that require zoning upgrades or floor area ratio negotiations, I will sit at the negotiation table myself.

-You have proposed making the underground space beneath Yeongdong-daero, restoring the venture and investment ecosystem on Teheran-ro, fostering MICE and robotics industries in the Suseo and Samseong Station areas, and integrating the transportation system with Hyundai Motor Group's GBC as future growth axes for Gangnam. What role can the Gangnam District Mayor play in these initiatives?

These are not tasks the district mayor can accomplish alone. The Seoul Metropolitan Government, central government, and private companies are all involved. However, depending on how the district mayor acts, the speed and direction of projects can change. The district mayor's role is to be a "coordinator" and a "facilitator."

Kim Hyunki, candidate for Gangnam District Mayor, is explaining his main pledges in an interview. Provided by the campaign office.

The underground development of Yeongdong-daero and the integrated transportation system with Hyundai Motor Group's GBC are challenges that Hyundai Motor Group, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, and Gangnam District must solve together. If the district mayor does not actively initiate negotiation channels, the projects will drift. Since my tenure as council chairman, I have overseen these projects' importance directly. If elected, I will immediately develop concrete plans to reorganize the surrounding transportation network in line with the construction schedule for Hyundai Motor Group's GBC. Restoring the venture and investment ecosystem on Teheran-ro is also an area where the Gangnam District Office can play a direct role.

Kim mentioned the temporary traffic congestion caused by the Yeongdong-daero underground construction, saying, "If you visit the site frequently, there are many cases where traffic jams, like a lane blocked by a single construction fence, can be resolved right away." Regarding the Wirye-Shinsa and Wirye-Gwacheon subway lines, he said, "These routes were promised during the development of Wirye New Town, but construction has been delayed even after 10 years of occupancy. Since the resulting traffic demand is not generated in Gangnam, I will push for prompt commencement of construction."

◆Candidate Kim Hyunki

△Born in Yeongju, North Gyeongsang Province △Entered politics in 1988 as a National Assembly assistant △Four-term Seoul Metropolitan Council member △Chairman of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee of the Seoul Metropolitan Council △11th Seoul Metropolitan Council Chairman (first half) △Spokesperson for the Seoul Metropolitan Chapter of the People Power Party △Deputy Director of the Central Training Institute of the People Power Party

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