Jung Won-oh: "Will Review Hangang Bus Safety... Real Estate Policy to Align with Government"

"Jongmyo Development, a Disaster Caused by Administrative Failure"
"Decision on Mayoral Candidacy to Be Made After the Coldest Period"

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong District in Seoul, has stated that if he is elected Mayor of Seoul, he will re-examine the safety of the Hangang Bus system introduced by Mayor Oh Se-hoon. He also expressed his intention to align Seoul’s real estate policies with those of the central government.

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong District, is giving an interview to The Asia Business Daily. Photo by Cho Yongjun

In a KBS radio interview on January 22, Mayor Jung responded to questions regarding the Hangang Bus by saying, “If I am elected Mayor of Seoul, the first thing I will do is review the safety of the Hangang Bus system. If, after verification, it is found to be unsafe, it should be immediately discontinued regardless of the cost.” He added, “Safety is the prerequisite. If it is deemed safe, operations will be conducted in a way that minimizes losses.”

Regarding development around Jongmyo, he emphasized that it depends on UNESCO’s World Heritage impact assessment. Mayor Jung said, “A few months ago, during the debate over Jongmyo, I stated from an administrative perspective that development could proceed after conducting an impact assessment. Several months have already passed, and if the assessment had been done then, significant progress would have been made by now.” He continued, “By conducting the impact assessment and gathering opinions from stakeholders related to Jongmyo and nearby residents, a balance can be found. However, because Mayor Oh has refused to undergo the impact assessment, nothing has been able to move forward. This is a disaster caused by administrative failure.”

Mayor Jung insisted that the government and Seoul Metropolitan Government must speak with one voice regarding Seoul’s real estate issues. He said, “The most important thing is to present a consistent position, and the government and Seoul must speak in unison. If there is discord here, it will once again disrupt market expectations.” He further emphasized, “When confusion hits the market, it leads to a surge in prices. Regardless of Seoul’s own stance, it must coordinate with the central government and speak with one voice.”

Meanwhile, Mayor Jung is expected to announce his candidacy for Mayor of Seoul soon. He said, “After the coldest period and heavy snowfall season pass, I plan to decide on my candidacy for Mayor of Seoul,” adding, “I am considering several possible locations for the announcement.” Regarding his lack of experience as a National Assembly member, he said, “Administration and the National Assembly are different in nature. Many have said that if I can leverage the characteristics and strengths of administration, it would be better to run for Mayor of Seoul directly rather than relying on parliamentary experience. President Lee Jaemyung also became Governor of Gyeonggi Province after serving as Mayor of Seongnam, without going through the National Assembly.”