Oh Sehoon and Kwon Youngse Voice Concern Over 10,000-Unit Plan in Yongsan: "Lacks Realism"

On the 6th, Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon and People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Youngse, whose constituency is Yongsan District, expressed concern over the plan to supply 10,000 housing units within the Yongsan International Business District, which is included in the government's "Jan. 29 Plan to Expand Housing Supply in Downtown Areas." They believe that indiscriminately increasing the number of units could undermine the district's function as an international business hub.

Oh Sehoon, Mayor of Seoul, is speaking at the People Power Party-Seoul real estate policy meeting held at the National Assembly on Feb. 2, 2026. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

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That day, Mayor Oh and Assemblyman Kwon held an emergency meeting in the mayor's office at Seoul City Hall regarding housing supply in the Yongsan International Business District, and stated that the government's proposed supply of 10,000 units is not realistic. In his opening remarks before the meeting, Mayor Oh stressed, "The Seoul Metropolitan Government operates under the principle that we must reasonably respond to growing residential demand while maintaining the city's international business functions," adding, "A supply scale of 6,000 units as originally planned, or at most 8,000 units even if we make concessions, is a realistic level."

Assemblyman Kwon, speaking to reporters after the meeting, also voiced criticism of the government's policy. He said, "The government is pushing this unilaterally while excluding voices from the field," and pointed out, "It could damage the original function of the international business district and actually create a poorer residential environment."

He went on to say, "The Yongsan International Business District has been designed as a smart business city centered on artificial intelligence (AI) and IT industries, and it even held a groundbreaking ceremony late last year with the goal of completion in 2031," adding, "If the government forces through the supply of 10,000 units, additional administrative procedures such as changes to the land use plan will be unavoidable, which will inevitably lead to project delays."

He also said, "President Lee Jaemyung remarked that 'there is no mayor who can beat the government,' but mayors move in response to public sentiment," and criticized, "Policies that exclude public sentiment are bound to fail in the end."

Mayor Oh and Assemblyman Kwon also announced plans to hold a forum that day on the Yongsan International Business District and housing supply in central Seoul, with participation from experts and citizens. Assemblyman Kwon said, "Housing issues are extremely urgent, but policies pursued in this way amount to nothing more than insincere and irresponsible desk-bound administration, even from the public's point of view," adding, "We will strongly raise objections with the government and demand that our position be reflected."

Through the housing supply measures announced on Jan. 29, the government put forward a plan to supply 10,000 housing units in the Yongsan International Business District. However, the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Yongsan District have been continuously opposing the plan, arguing that the government is fixated solely on increasing the supply volume and is undermining an existing agreement on an appropriate residential ratio. Yongsan District, which has consistently voiced opposition to the government's 10,000-unit supply plan, also announced on this day that it will launch a "Yongsan International Business District Comprehensive Response Task Force (TF)" headed by the vice district mayor to begin a full-scale response.

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