"If the Leadership Hesitates to Sever Ties, They Will Be Judged in the Local Elections"
On March 4, former People Power Party lawmaker Heesook Yoon announced her candidacy for the Seoul mayoral election, stating, "I will revive Seoul as an economic city that understands market principles."
At a press conference held at the National Assembly's press center that day, Yoon said, "I will restore Seoul, which has lost its vibrancy due to outdated politics, into a city of growth and opportunity." Born in Seoul, Yoon previously worked at the Korea Development Institute (KDI) and served as a member of the 21st National Assembly. After the last presidential election, she took on the role of chairperson of the party innovation committee.
Yoon first mentioned, "Last year, as the party's innovation committee chair, I firmly called for a break with the past, urging the party to change its stance on the issues of martial law and impeachment." She added, "If the party leadership continues to hesitate in making decisions, the matter will ultimately be settled by the people's choice in the upcoming local elections."
Yoon emphasized a shift in real estate policy as her top priority. She stated, "What is needed now is not more regulation but increased supply," and proposed a "Three-Part Real Estate Shock Therapy Package" to significantly revitalize redevelopment and reconstruction projects. She outlined a plan to raise floor area ratios to their highest levels and introduce a "Type 4 General Residential Zone with a 500% floor area ratio" in consultation with the central government.
She also pledged to overhaul administrative regulations in the redevelopment process. This includes introducing a "public contribution resident referendum system" that reflects residents' opinions in redevelopment and reconstruction, and streamlining thousands of pages of related ordinances and guidelines to speed up projects. In addition, she plans to expand special provisions allowing the conversion of downtown work and commercial facilities into residential use, thereby increasing housing supply in central districts such as Jongno and Euljiro.
For urban growth strategies, Yoon proposed establishing a cultural and content industry hub centered on Chang-dong in northern Seoul. She said, "I will create an industrial ecosystem that combines Seoul's university talent pool, cultural assets, and global fandom," and announced plans to build a "K-Culture Nexus" in Chang-dong. Her vision includes creating a multi-industry space linking performances, tourism, and the beauty and content industries, transforming northern Seoul into a new growth axis.
She also pledged to establish a second Seoul City Hall in Chang-dong to concentrate urban innovation functions there, and to create an "AI Valley" in the Hongneung area. Yoon proposed that Seoul should act as the first purchaser of innovative technologies and expand AI-based city administration.
For transportation policy, she introduced "Seoul Transportation 3.0." Yoon said, "Rather than indiscriminately building new lines, it is more important to efficiently connect the existing rail network," and pledged "subway reshuffling," a plan to create short-distance connections between subway lines. For example, she proposed linking Dongdaemun History and Culture Park Station with Dongdaeipgu Station to enable travel from the northern to the southern part of the city without transfers. She also pledged to completely overhaul bus routes for the first time in 22 years.
Yoon stated, "What Seoul needs now is not political slogans, but leadership that understands the economy," and reiterated her commitment to restore Seoul as a city of growth and opportunity.
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