Oh Sehoon Strengthens Political Affairs Team with New Chief of Housing and Real Estate Policy Ahead of Fifth Term Bid

Special Advisor for Media Content and Chief of External Cooperation Positions Newly Established

Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon has moved to strengthen his political affairs team by creating new positions, including the Chief of Housing and Real Estate Policy.

According to the "Enforcement Rule of the Ordinance on the Establishment of Seoul Metropolitan Government Administrative Organizations" revision, which was pre-announced by the city on July 10, Seoul will newly establish professional term-based positions such as Special Advisor for Media Content, Chief of External Cooperation, and Chief of Housing and Real Estate Policy.

Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon is delivering a commemorative speech at the 'World Drug Day Commemoration Event' held at Seoul City Hall in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 23rd. 2025.6.23. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

The existing similar positions, Chief of Media Content and Chief of Planning, will be abolished. Kim Soyang, the current Chief of Media Content, has been nominated as the Special Advisor for Media Content. Lee Jihyun, currently the Special Advisor for Vision Strategy, will take on the role of Special Advisor for Overall Planning. Kang Hyunjun, the current Political Affairs Aide, has reportedly been nominated as the new Chief of External Cooperation, a position created to strengthen external cooperation efforts.

This is the first time since Mayor Oh returned to office that a specialized political affairs position dedicated to housing and real estate, such as the Chief of Housing and Real Estate Policy, has been established. This move is interpreted as a follow-up measure to enhance the city’s real estate policy expertise after the lifting and re-designation of land transaction permit zones in February and March.

Kang Chulwon, former Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs and known as one of Mayor Oh’s closest aides since his days as a parliamentary assistant, is also expected to return next week as the Director General of the Seoul Brand.

This restructuring of the political affairs team is also seen as Mayor Oh laying the groundwork to pursue a third consecutive term in next year’s local elections. During a press conference held on July 5 (local time) while on a business trip to Europe, Mayor Oh commented on the possibility of running in the local elections, stating, "It is true that the more you work, the greater your ambition becomes."