[Report] Song "Redevelopment with 100% Tenant Rehousing" Oh "Rapid Promotion of Quick Integrated Planning"

On the First Day of Official Election Campaign, Seoul Mayoral Candidates' Rally Sites Reviewed
Oh Se-hoon Appeals for Support in Low Approval Areas like Geumcheon and Gwanak
Song Young-gil Announces Redevelopment Pledge in Gangbuk

Seoul mayoral candidate Oh Se-hoon of the People Power Party is holding his first focused campaign rally near Cityrex in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul on the 19th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy reporters Hyunju Lee and Juni Park] On the first official election day of the June 1 local elections, on the 19th, election campaigners wearing upper garments with candidates' names and shoulder sashes appeared in large numbers at various campaign sites in Seoul. During the morning rush hour, election workers holding candidate placards lined up at major subway station entrances, shouting "Please support us" along with the candidates' names, while other workers busily handed out candidate business cards to citizens. The real contest to win voters' hearts began for the 13 days until the 31st.

On the same day, Song Young-gil of the Democratic Party and Oh Se-hoon of the People Power Party, candidates for Seoul mayor, also started their official campaigns wearing jumpers with their names on them.

Candidate Song greeted commuters early in the morning at Suyu Station and Miasageori Station in Gangbuk-gu. This was his second schedule after visiting the Gunja subway train depot at midnight to experience railway maintenance. Most citizens were indifferent to the campaign, but 'passionate supporters' continued to visit the campaign sites. In particular, 7 to 8 women in their 20s and 30s approached Song during two hours to cheer him on. Some even prepared flowers and gifts to present.

Song chose Gangbuk as his first official campaign site because it is a representative working-class residential area and to emphasize solving Seoul's redevelopment and reconstruction issues. He told our reporter, "Gangbuk is the most underdeveloped area in Seoul," explaining, "The GDP difference with Gangnam is more than 20 times." Standing on the campaign vehicle, he said, "The fundamental difference with Oh Se-hoon, the Seoul mayor candidate, is that I want to create redevelopment and reconstruction that allows tenants to be 100% resettled," adding, "I will work hard to protect the property rights and basic rights of Seoul citizens and Gangbuk citizens."

Song then announced his redevelopment and reconstruction policy pledges in front of an apartment complex in Dobong-gu. The pledges included abolishing safety inspection reviews for old apartment reconstruction and easing reconstruction charges for single-homeowners, among other deregulation measures. In the afternoon, he planned to campaign mainly in redevelopment areas such as Changdong redevelopment district and Junggye-dong permanent rental housing complex.

Song Young-gil, the Democratic Party of Korea's candidate for Seoul mayor, is campaigning in front of Suyu Station in Dobong-gu, Seoul, on the 19th.
[Photo by Park Joon-yi]

Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor aiming to regain a majority in the Seoul City Council, began his first official speech in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul. This signified his intention to prioritize the southwestern region, considered a weak area for conservative regimes. Holding the microphone, Oh climbed onto the campaign vehicle stage and said, "We will develop the Geumcheon-gu Office station area and the former Air Force base site to create a vibrant economic hub around Geumcheon-gu Office," adding, "With the establishment of the first public art museum in the southwestern region, the 'Seoseoul Art Museum,' the economy and culture will create a virtuous cycle. We will swiftly promote the rapid integrated planning for the aging residential areas around Siheung-dong and expedite the complex development of the Kia Motors site into a knowledge industry center." Oh also said, "Since this is my first speech holding the microphone today, I will refrain from mentioning the opposing candidate much," but criticized Song as a 'political mayor.'

After accompanying a midnight safety patrol, Oh greeted commuters from 7:30 a.m. in a white upper garment in front of Exit 6 of Seoul National University Station in Gwanak-gu. Next to him stood Lee Haeng-ja, the Gwanak-gu district mayor candidate, wearing a shoulder sash, greeting together. In a meeting with reporters, Oh said, "As I mentioned in my first pledge, I plan to lead the city administration over the next four years with the concept of walking alongside the vulnerable." Oh's campaign team actively released statements and promoted their campaign.

In this local election, 17 metropolitan mayors and education superintendents, 226 basic local government heads, 779 metropolitan council members, and 2,602 basic council members will be elected. By-elections for members of the National Assembly will also be held simultaneously in seven districts.

With the official campaign starting on this day, candidates are allowed to use music and microphones on campaign vehicles. However, at some campaign sites, citizens frowned in displeasure as the candidates' voices grew louder due to the use of music and microphones.