[Asia Economy Reporter Onyu Lim] Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is expanding related organizations to stabilize the market through increased real estate supply.
According to Seoul City on the 18th, Mayor Oh decided to expand the workforce of the Housing and Architecture Headquarters under the Second Deputy Mayor for Administration. The Housing and Architecture Headquarters currently consists of seven departments, including the Housing Policy Division, and one center.
The city plans to increase personnel by reallocating housing-related tasks currently handled by other offices and bureaus related to real estate.
Real estate supply-related tasks in the city fall under the Second Deputy Mayor for Administration. In addition to the Housing and Architecture Headquarters, which oversees the work, the Urban Regeneration Office’s Urban Activation Division and the Urban Planning Bureau’s Urban Management Division are each handling individual projects.
The city is also reportedly considering expanding and reorganizing the organizational structure of the Housing and Architecture Headquarters after consultations with the Seoul Metropolitan Council.
By having the Housing and Architecture Headquarters handle most of the tasks related to Seoul’s housing supply, the city aims to improve efficiency and make tangible progress on Mayor Oh’s campaign pledge of "speedy housing supply."
Mayor Oh’s "real estate supply drive" is also evident in the appointment of Ryu Hun, Director of the Urban Regeneration Office, as the Second Deputy Mayor for Administration.
Appointee Ryu is a housing expert who has held positions such as Housing Supply Division Chief, Housing Supply Policy Officer, Director of the Urban Planning Bureau, Housing Project Planning Officer, and Head of the Housing and Architecture Headquarters.
Under the late former Mayor Park Won-soon, the Second Deputy Mayor for Administration, who oversees urban planning and construction in Seoul, was often someone from the infrastructure or safety sectors. However, under Mayor Oh’s administration, the appointment of Director Ryu emphasizes housing supply.
The Urban Regeneration Office, which gained influence during former Mayor Park’s tenure, is expected to face a reduction in functions, roles, and status.
During his candidacy, Mayor Oh visited an urban regeneration project site in Jongno-gu and remarked that over 100 billion won had been spent over ten years, saying, "Did former Mayor Park Won-soon spend his personal money? Did President Moon Jae-in spend his personal money? Despite spending taxpayers’ money like that, this area has not changed," expressing a negative view of urban regeneration.
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