Oh Se-hoon Begins Work Report... Initiates Administrative Reform

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon visited Seobuk Hospital in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul on the 9th to check the current status of COVID-19 response and is answering questions from the press. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] Newly appointed Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon will begin receiving work reports from the 12th and embark on a full-scale reorganization of city administration.

According to Seoul City on the 11th, Mayor Oh plans to receive work reports from each department and bureau during this week (12th?16th) and establish concrete measures to implement key campaign promises.

The work reports will be conducted in the order of housing and safety (Housing and Architecture Headquarters, Safety General Office, etc.), economy and livelihood (Economic Policy Office, Tourism and Sports Bureau, etc.), and welfare and health (Welfare Policy Office, Citizen Health Bureau, etc.).

He will review the status of ongoing projects and reconsider parts that do not align with the new policy direction. Accordingly, organizational restructuring such as abolishing or downsizing related departments is expected.

Earlier, during the election period, Mayor Oh stated in the policy pledge questionnaire response from the Korea Manifesto Practice Headquarters that he would suspend, discard, or modify and supplement 171 out of 229 policies of the late former Mayor Park Won-soon, which accounts for 75%.

However, at a meeting with senior officials on the 8th, he said, "The previous mayor (former Mayor Park) came and overturned the work of his predecessor, which is a vivid memory," adding, "I will take that as a lesson and will not easily change direction, cancel, or pretend it never happened."

Regarding the Gwanghwamun Plaza restructuring project, which involves nearly 80 billion won in investment, since the first phase of construction has already been completed and recently Seoul City Council Chairman Kim In-ho stated that "(if it is to be stopped) the consent of the council must be obtained," it is expected that a sudden halt will not be ordered.

It is also known that work will begin on implementing other campaign promises besides real estate and housing policy pledges.

Among Mayor Oh’s top 10 campaign promises, except for the four housing policies that require consultation with the city council and government, the remaining pledges include ▲ rapid commencement of light rail construction ▲ establishment of a special task force for the safety of single-person households ▲ pilot implementation of the Seoul Citizen Safety Income System ▲ establishment of a Youth Employment Academy ▲ tenfold expansion of youth monthly rent support ▲ zero tolerance for sexual violence.