Uijeongbu, Gwangjin-gu Followed by Continued Visits to 'Challenging Areas'
Railroad Undergrounding and Old Downtown Redevelopment for 'Housing Supply'
Aiming for Youth Votes with Raised Youth Age Criteria and More
"So please make sure you two win here and complete this."
On the afternoon of the 22nd, Han Dong-hoon, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, said this while linking arms with former anchor Ho Jun-seok, who is running for Guro District Gap, and Assemblyman Tae Young-ho, who is running for Guro District Eul, near the railway site in Oryu-dong, Guro District, a 'tough' area. Chairman Han encouraged the People Power Party candidates running in Guro District to successfully fulfill their pledge to build housing for young people and newlyweds on the land created by the underground railway project. Former anchor Ho and Assemblyman Tae were each nominated unopposed for Guro Gap and Eul in the upcoming April 10 general election.
At a meeting with residents at a cafe in Oryu-dong that day, Chairman Han said, "Not only here (Oryu-dong) but also in Suwon, we have pledged to cover the railway," adding, "In the past, the railway greatly helped sustain this area, but now the exposed railway hinders local communication and development." He emphasized, "It's not just about noise issues; covering the railway allows us to build many new things on top."
In response, candidate Ho said, "(If the subway is underground) Guro can be completely transformed," and added, "We can build apartments on that land and develop convenience facilities like shopping malls with private capital."
Chairman Han also revealed youth-related pledges at the residents' meeting, including raising the upper age limit for youth and announcing housing supply plans for young people.
Proposals included amending the Youth Basic Act to raise the youth age limit from 34 to 39, reflecting the increasing ages for employment, marriage, and childbirth. He stated, "The Youth Basic Act enacted in 2020 defines youth as those aged 19 to 34, but that standard is no longer appropriate." He continued, "We will amend the Youth Basic Act to raise the youth age limit by one year annually up to 39."
Yoo Ui-dong, Policy Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, also participated in the meeting, saying, "We plan to significantly expand housing supply for young people, newlyweds, and families with children," and "We will utilize the land secured through the underground railway project and redevelopment of old downtown areas as spaces for young people."
Yoo also presented housing pledges supporting prospective couples. He explained, "There has been an issue where dual-income couples after marriage have significantly increased income, making them ineligible for policy support," and added, "For prospective couples and couples married less than a year, we will raise the income criteria for Didimdol housing purchase loans and Beotimok jeonse deposit loans." The plan is to increase the Didimdol loan income limit from the current combined couple income of 85 million KRW to 120 million KRW, and the Beotimok limit from 75 million KRW to 100 million KRW.
Meanwhile, Chairman Han has been steadily visiting tough constituencies, announcing pledges and supporting prospective candidates, including visits to Uijeongbu on the 16th and Gwangjin District on the 20th. He plans to visit Gyeyang District Eul on the 23rd with former Minister Won Hee-ryong, who was nominated unopposed, to appeal to local public sentiment.
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