Criticizing Yoon Administration, Emphasizing National Unity and Communication
Promise to Establish UN Headquarters in Seoul and Partially Abolish Comprehensive Real Estate Tax
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil has officially announced his candidacy for the Seoul mayoral election. His pledges include establishing a United Nations (UN) headquarters in Seoul, revising the lease protection law, and partially abolishing the comprehensive real estate tax.
On the 17th, Song held a press conference in front of SangSangMadang in Mapo-gu, Seoul, stating, "As a former party leader, I stand here with a desperate heart that we absolutely cannot give up Seoul in this local election," adding, "Instead of defeatism, I want to inspire the will of 'Let's try' and 'We can do it,' becoming the catalyst and driving force for victory."
He said, "I stand here with the determination to run the second half of the presidential election and to repay the support of 16.14 million people who voted in the presidential election with a victory in the local elections," and added, "We must install checks against the unilateral dominance of the Yoon Seok-yeol government and move toward true national unity."
Song announced his first pledge to attract the UN's 5th headquarters to Seoul. He said, "By hosting the UN 5th headquarters, we will make Seoul a global central city," and explained, "With the UN 5th headquarters firmly established in Seoul, North Korea cannot launch Scud missiles or long-range artillery toward the city. This will help reduce the arms race between the North and South and prevent military crises in advance, making the UN headquarters in Seoul a first step toward lasting peace."
He also expressed confidence in persuading the UN, emphasizing, "Among the 193 UN member countries, Asia has 54 countries with a population of 4.5 billion, accounting for 60% of the world's population, yet there is no headquarters representing the Asia-Pacific group."
Secondly, he promised to improve real estate policies. Song said, "We will supply 50,000 half-price apartments through the Naegok-dong development and 12,000 units through the Guryong Village development," adding, "We will provide 'Anyone's House,' where people can achieve the dream of owning a home by paying only 10% of the price."
He also pledged to revise the lease protection law and partially abolish the comprehensive real estate tax. He explained, "About 100,000 single-homeowners pay the comprehensive real estate tax, amounting to approximately 130 billion won, which is only 2.5% of the total 5.6 trillion won in comprehensive real estate tax," and said, "We will abolish the comprehensive real estate tax for single-homeowners except for ultra-high-priced homes and ensure there is no 'unfair real estate tax.'" He also stated that the increased capital gains tax would be suspended for the next two years.
Finally, he criticized, "The soon-to-be-launched Yoon Seok-yeol government is already cutting off bridges of communication and coexistence," adding, "Instead of communication, it relies on orders and coercion; instead of cooperation and coexistence, it persists with disregard and one-way traffic." He emphasized, "I, Song Young-gil, will fulfill the dream of political change through coexistence and unity starting from Seoul, according to the will of the people."
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