Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's Project Sparks Clash Between Seoul City and City Council... Oh Se-hoon: "We Must Restore the 'Ladder of Social Mobility'... Please Help"

On the morning of the 24th, visited the City Council Budget Committee to request supplementary budget approval... "Isn't there no party division in the education plan?"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] "The Seoul Metropolitan Council's issues with Seoul city projects are related to restoring the social mobility ladder. I believe this aligns with the values of the Democratic Party of Korea. We will ensure that the four areas of welfare, education, jobs, and housing work in harmony."

As the Seoul Metropolitan Council has put the brakes on Mayor Oh Se-hoon's policies in the supplementary budget proposal submitted by Seoul city, Mayor Oh held an unscheduled emergency press briefing on the morning of the 24th to express this position. Prior to the briefing, Mayor Oh also visited the Seoul Metropolitan Council's Budget and Accounts Special Committee, which was reviewing the supplementary budget, to request that the budget be passed as originally proposed.

The council, citing insufficient preparation, completely cut the budgets for the Seoul-type education platform 'Seoul Run' (4.8 billion KRW), the Seoul-type healthcare system construction (4.7 billion KRW), youth support projects (300 million KRW), and the Seoul-type shared daycare centers (400 million KRW). Additionally, out of the 2.8 billion KRW budget for the single-person household support project, which Mayor Oh is promoting with a dedicated organization, 2 billion KRW was cut.

Mayor Oh emphasized, "Since the election, I have stressed fairness and coexistence, which is also my personal mission. Creating a society of fairness and coexistence must be the goal." He added, "Considering the situation of small business owners and neighborhood markets after COVID-19, restoring the social mobility ladder is the most urgent policy task."

He further explained, "The establishment of the Seoul-type education platform is a project aimed at reducing private education expenses and closing the educational gap, especially as the burden of private education costs increases and the gap between Gangnam and non-Gangnam areas widens." He added, "I earnestly requested the Budget and Accounts Committee of the council during my visit. Education is beyond party lines."

Moreover, Mayor Oh stated that he requested the council to pass the projects whose budgets were entirely cut, including the Seoul-type healthcare system construction, youth support projects, and Seoul-type shared daycare centers, as originally proposed.

He said, "I am well aware of the concerns of the council members and will explain as sincerely as possible," adding, "I requested the council to handle the matter so that the second half of this year can be a milestone for these projects."