Democratic Party's Seoul chapter holds policy meeting with lawmakers and district mayors

Party pushes to transfer authority over small-scale redevelopment projects to district offices

Members say cooperation with Oh is possible if he offers appropriate alternatives

Han Jung-ae, secretary-general of the Democratic Party of Korea, speaks at a policy meeting between the party's Seoul chapter and district mayors on Thursday. [Newsis]
Han Jung-ae, secretary-general of the Democratic Party of Korea, speaks at a policy meeting between the party's Seoul chapter and district mayors on Thursday. [Newsis]

The Democratic Party of Korea's Seoul chapter on Thursday sharply criticized Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's proposal to develop a youth-focused industrial complex on the site of the Tancheon water reclamation center in Gangnam-gu — an alternative Oh floated Wednesday to the government and ruling party's plan to use Yongsan Park for housing — calling it "a hollow political slogan that may not even be feasible for another 10 years."

Kim Young-bae, an Assembly member who chairs the Democratic Party's Seoul chapter, made the remarks at a policy meeting of Democratic Party lawmakers and district mayors held Thursday morning at the party's Seoul chapter office in Yeouido. The meeting was convened to discuss ways to address one of the party's most pressing issues: the housing supply shortage in Seoul.

"Isn't it impossible to supply housing at Tancheon without relocating the water reclamation center?" Kim said. "He is doing 'bird's-eye-view politics' — presenting renderings as if supply were possible — so I'd like him to first explain where he plans to move the facility before talking about building anything there." The remarks were widely seen as a direct rebuke of Oh, who has consistently refused to accept the government and ruling party's plan to use Yongsan Park for housing.

Kim said one- and two-person households now account for more than 67 percent of all households in Seoul, adding that the time has come for proper urban planning that addresses the housing difficulties facing younger generations. "The two principles of housing supply at this moment are affordability and speed," he said.

He added that the Seoul chapter would actively recommend to the central party — and push forward — a transfer of authority over small-scale redevelopment and urban planning projects involving 500 or fewer households from the Seoul mayor to individual district offices. He said the party would also separately review whether additional measures are needed for development zones involving fewer than 300 households or those linked to other laws such as the special act on vacant homes.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party's Seoul chapter said it is open to cooperating with Oh if a shared understanding on housing supply proposals can be reached.

Oh Ki-hyung, an Assembly member who chairs the chapter's special committee on housing supply policy, said the party would actively embrace and work through any appropriate proposals Oh raises regarding the jeonse and monthly rent crisis or housing supply. "If there are areas where supply regulations can be lifted right away from the perspective of residents, we need to actively put forward alternatives," he said.

He added that ground-breakings and permits had fallen sharply from 2022 through 2024, pointing to a projected supply shortage over the two to three years from 2026 onward. Of the expected shortfall, he said, 10 percent involves public housing and 90 percent private, and supply would fundamentally need to be driven by the private sector.

Democratic Party-affiliated district mayors in Seoul also shared with the Seoul chapter a list of potential housing development sites in their respective districts, including the Guro railway depot.


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