Oh Se-hoon Holds Lunch with Democratic Party Seoul Electees to Discuss Local Issues

Attendance of Kim Young-ho, Chairman of the Seoul Democratic Party Committee, and Others

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon met with newly elected Democratic Party members from the Seoul area for the first time since the April 10 general election to discuss local issues.

On the 30th, Mayor Oh held a meet-and-greet luncheon with elected officials, including Kim Young-ho, the Democratic Party's Seoul mayoral committee chairman, at the Seoul Mayor's official residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Among the incumbent lawmakers, Chairman Kim, Lee Hae-sik (Gangdong-eul), Oh Ki-hyung (Dobong-eul), Yoon Gun-young (Guro-eul), Lee Yong-seon (Yangcheon-eul), and Kim Young-bae (Seongbuk-gap) attended. Newly elected members Kwak Sang-eon (Jongno), Lee Jeong-heon (Gwangjin-gap), Kim Nam-geun (Seongbuk-eul), Han Min-su (Gangbuk-eul), Kim Dong-a (Seodaemun-gap), and Park Min-gyu (Gwanak-gap) were also present.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon announced the follow-up "Han River Water Activation Comprehensive Plan" for the "Great Han River Project" at Seoul City Hall on the 24th. Mayor Oh is entering the briefing room. Photo by Heo Young-han younghan@

During the luncheon, Mayor Oh told the opposition party members, "What we do is daily administration and city governance, so it is different in nature from what is discussed in the National Assembly. I believe there are probably more similarities between us," adding, "Please do not feel any discomfort, and if you contact me, I would be happy to meet anytime to discuss necessary matters together and move toward a cooperative relationship."

Chairman Kim also emphasized, "We may have different thoughts, but isn't our goal the same? We share the common purpose of creating a happy Seoul with a well-established welfare system."

At the luncheon, Mayor Oh and the elected officials mainly discussed local issues in Seoul. The elected members raised regional concerns such as the Seoul light rail Mokdong Line and the Gangbuk Transversal Line, and there were inquiries about the budget for the Climate Companion Card, which was implemented for the first time this year, and its expansion to other areas. Differences of opinion were also reported regarding the Student Human Rights Ordinance and the proposed abolition of the Seoul Social Service Agency support ordinance.

Earlier, on the 26th, the Seoul Metropolitan Council passed a bill to abolish the Seoul Student Human Rights Ordinance in a plenary session attended only by People Power Party councilors. The People Power Party holds 76 of the 112 seats in the Seoul Metropolitan Council.

On the 22nd and 23rd, Mayor Oh also held dinners separately with both the defeated and elected candidates from the People Power Party who ran in the Seoul area in the general election.