The People Power Party is continuing its offensive against the real estate measures released by the government on Oct. 15. People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok launched a joint push by visiting a redevelopment promotion zone in Nowon District with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon. Former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon, who set out on the "listening to public sentiment road," offered covering fire by accompanying a prospective newlywed couple in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, as they looked for a newlywed home.
The People Power Party's Special Committee on Normalizing Real Estate Policy held an on-site meeting on the morning of the 24th at the Sanggye 5 redevelopment promotion zone in Nowon District, Seoul. Attending the meeting were party leaders including leader Jang, who serves as chairperson of the special committee, Floor Leader Song Eon-seog, Policy Committee Chairperson Kim Do-eup, and Seoul Chapter Chairperson Bae Hyun-jin, as well as Seoul officials including Mayor Oh Se-hoon.
The Sanggye 5 redevelopment promotion zone was designated a New Town district in 2005 and received approval to establish a union in 2009. However, the project stalled after going through events such as the invalidation of the builder selection and the dismissal of the union head. Some surrounding areas have completed redevelopment; behind the site where the People Power Party held its meeting, the high-rise "Nowon Lotte Castle Signature" was visible.
Leader Jang arrived at the Sanggye 5 redevelopment promotion zone at around 9:30 a.m. and exchanged greetings with Mayor Oh, who had arrived earlier. Jang told Oh about living in Nowon District during college, and Oh responded, "It's a place full of memories." Members of the People Power Party's real estate normalization special committee and Seoul officials walked through narrow alleys, hearing about the status of redevelopment efforts and residents' difficulties.
Jang and Oh stressed that the real estate measures released by the government on Oct. 15 could become obstacles to redevelopment projects. Jang said, "Walking through the alleys, I could feel the earnest wishes of residents who want their residential environment to change quickly," adding, "At a time when the project needs to pick up speed, the government announced strong real estate regulatory policies, and there will be concerns that all the efforts to date might go down the drain."
He continued, "Right now, it is very difficult to find land to supply dwellings in the greater Seoul area," adding, "Therefore, accelerating maintenance projects such as redevelopment and reconstruction and enabling them to proceed quickly is a very realistic and efficient alternative."
Oh also said, "Seoul has wrung the cloth dry to shorten the average 18 years and 6 months required for maintenance projects, cutting it again and again to 12 years," adding, "But with government regulations imposing lending limits, even if redevelopment takes place, there is a concern that people will be unable to buy or sell, delaying maintenance projects. We will exert maximum negotiating power to reduce as much as possible the parts you are concerned about."
In Dongtan, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, former leader Han Dong-hoon went on the offensive. The day before, Han met a prospective newlywed couple in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, and carried out the "listening to public sentiment road." He accompanied the couple as they sought a home before marriage to hear firsthand about the difficulties of ordinary people. After the accompaniment, Han also released a photo of having "chimaek" with the couple.
On the day, Han wrote on his Facebook page, "After the Oct. 15 housing disaster measures, the vicious cycle of rising home prices, rising jeonse, the disappearance of jeonse, and rising monthly rent had already begun," criticizing, "The life plans of citizens like this prospective newlywed couple were being hit by the Oct. 15 housing disaster measures."
He went on to stress, "First Vice Minister Lee Sang-gyeong of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) should be made to resign, and the Oct. 15 housing disaster measures should be withdrawn." Han plans to visit for ten days southern Gyeonggi areas, including Seongnam, that were designated as regulated areas in the latest measures.