Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor, visited Seongdong District in Seoul on the 6th to meet residents struggling under real estate regulations.
On this day, candidate Oh launched the "Real Estate Hell Citizens' Countermeasures Council," centered on preparing measures to stabilize housing. Immediately after the launch, he went to the home turf of Democratic Party of Korea Seoul mayoral candidate Chong Won-o, who served three terms as Seongdong District mayor, and sharply criticized the Lee Jae-myung administration's real estate policies.
That day, at a real estate agency in Seongdong District, Seoul, Oh met residents facing difficulties securing housing due to a drop in jeonse and monthly rental supply and held the "Real Estate Hell Citizens' Countermeasures Council."
The area around the real estate agency where the citizens' council was held has a Line 5 subway station and two apartment complexes with 3,000 households, and demand from actual residents such as office workers and newlyweds is high. Four people, including engaged couples and newlyweds who live in the area or are looking for properties nearby, also attended the council that day.
Residents said they are struggling due to a decrease in jeonse and monthly rental listings and rising prices caused by government real estate policies. Kim Bit-na, 35, a newlywed who has lived in Seongdong District, Seoul, for about 20 years, spoke about the difficulty of securing housing due to a lack of supply.
Kim said, "We're thinking about having a baby, so we wanted to move near my parents' home, but there are no listings, so even when we tried to leave Seongdong for nearby Gwangjin, there's nothing," adding, "My husband has lived in Seoul all his life, but we're worried that at this rate we may have to move to another area."
Another resident lamented difficulties from the jeonse shortage and price hikes. Jang Yu-ri, 34, who lives nearby, said, "We live in Jamsil, and it was 700 million won when we moved in, but it rose 50% over three years," adding, "We're looking into other areas, but there are so few listings that we're wondering if we need to put down a deposit without even seeing a place."
One resident spoke about hardships from the monthly rent shortage and rising prices. Lee Ho-dong, 37, a delivery worker, said, "I barely found a gosiwon-type place for 300,000 won a month," adding, "You can't find anything under 400,000 won."
Oh also asked a real estate agent at the event about the number of real estate transactions since the government's 10·15 measures. In response, a real estate agent surnamed Lee said, "This is a station-area location, so many young newlyweds live here. Many people commute to jobs, and while demand is high, supply is extremely short."
Oh said, "Renters with nowhere to go are being pushed out of their communities, leaving their schools and workplaces behind and being driven outside Seoul," adding, "It is none other than the Lee Jae-myung administration that sowed the seeds of tragic eviction conflicts."
He continued, "Can a candidate who cannot even open their mouth about the president's misrule and is busy merely currying favor like the president's poodle speak for the cries of residents?" adding, "To end this administration's real estate tyranny, filled with self-righteousness, we are entering an emergency action with you starting today."