Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor, focused on the "northern districts" on the first day of official campaigning for the June 3 local elections. He moved first to areas where the ruling party is relatively strong, setting the stage for a head-to-head clash.
On the morning of the 21st in Mia-dong, Gangbuk District, Seoul, Oh launched his official campaign and put forward a "judgment on the real estate mismanagement" message front and center.
Oh said, "It was here in Gangbuk District that the spark of the real estate market, which entered an ice age after redevelopment and reconstruction zones were lifted during Mayor Park Won-soon's tenure, was revived," adding, "This is where the floor area ratio incentive system began, and the first project under the Moa Town initiative underway nearby has matured to the point that groundbreaking is possible this year."
He went on, "The current administration has stubbornly stuck to end-use residency rules, loan restrictions, and punitive taxation, causing a 'triple squeeze' in which renters face the disappearance of jeonse and soaring monthly rents, and dwellings owners are deeply worried due to higher capital gains taxes," adding, "This election is one to judge such real estate mismanagement."
Oh then visited Seodaemun District, Guro District, and Dongdaemun District in turn to stump, saying he would solve real estate problems by supplying dwellings. At Samyang Sageori in Gangbuk District, Seoul, Oh said, "When Gangbuk District was so hemmed in on all sides by height-limit regulations that neither villas nor apartments could be built, I eased the regulations so people could joyfully secure new homes," adding, "Oh Se-hoon will overwhelmingly complete the golden era of Gangbuk."
Former lawmaker Yoo Seong-min, who joined the stump, said, "Candidate No. 1 (Chong Won-o) is someone who would follow along no matter how poorly the president handles real estate issues," adding, "No matter what the president says, Oh Se-hoon has pledged that Seoul City will build 310,000 homes over the next five years—so who should you choose?"
Oh then moved to Inwang Market in Seodaemun District, Seoul, and continued his stump speech in front of market merchants.
There, Oh said, "President Lee Jae-myung's real estate policy is a zero-point policy," adding, "If dwelling prices, jeonse, and monthly rents rise, when you come to Inwang Market here, you can buy only three side dishes instead of five."
He added, "People with a lot of money say stock prices are up because they invested in stocks, but with home prices rising, ordinary people are really getting squeezed."
Oh then visited a college district in Seongbuk District, Seoul, to meet young people and pledged to solve youth dwelling issues. Some young people who met Oh near the college district opened their notebooks to ask him for an autograph or a photo.
A college student surnamed Lim, 27, who took a photo with Oh, said, "I live in an off-campus room near school and can feel monthly rent going up," adding, "I'm also worried about buying my own home later, and if the vote were tomorrow, I'd want to vote for Oh, whose pledge and message on dwellings supply are specific."
Oh appealed, "The June 3 election is the only chance to correct the dwellings policy of the Lee Jae-myung administration that is going the wrong way," adding, "You must vote for Oh Se-hoon so that changes in real estate continue."