Chong Won-o, the Democratic Party of Korea candidate for Seoul mayor, said in an interview with ChosunBiz on the 31st, "I will work by thinking only about whether it helps citizens' lives, without asking whether it is conservative or progressive," adding, "this is precisely 'Chong Won-o-style pragmatism.'"
Chong stressed on real estate policy as well, saying he would "break the old frame that 'if the mayor is from the Democratic Party, redevelopment and reconstruction won't happen.'" He said, "During my 12 years as Seongdong District chief, I actively cooperated on necessary development and took the lead in proposing to Seoul City to resolve problems that got stuck on the ground," adding, "I am confident I can push redevelopment and reconstruction more safely and faster than Oh Se-hoon."
Chong dismissed the Oh camp's dredging up of past incidents as a "negative offensive," saying, "Rather than negativity that tears down the opponent and tires out voters, I will fight only against citizens' inconveniences and do my utmost to the end with policy and competence."
The following is a Q&A with Chong.
-You are running for Seoul mayor after three terms as Seongdong District chief. What is the public sentiment in Seoul from what you've seen on the ground?
"Every citizen I meet, regardless of region, wants a competent local government and a Seoul mayor who gets things done. Lately I have felt a strong rise in expectations for the efficacy that administration can actually change daily life. Watching the central government's changes and pace, people have begun to expect that Seoul can change too. I feel the biggest current in this election is a judgment on 10 years of showcase administration."
-How do you assess candidate Oh Se-hoon, who has led city affairs?
"Because Oh Se-hoon pushed only what the mayor wanted to do, citizens often said their taxes were being wasted. Elections are a process where those who did a good job keep working, and if not, the chance goes to someone who will do better. Since my time as Seongdong District chief, I have delivered changes that citizens can feel through day-to-day, close-to-life administration."
-You have proposed a property tax reduction for single-home owners with no income. Tax cut is a topic that even within the Democratic Party draws both support and opposition. What led you to craft this pledge?
"With the burden on citizens growing due to Middle East-driven high oil prices and rising inflation, if property taxes also go up as the publicly announced prices rise, it will inevitably be a heavy burden on elderly retirees without income. Against this backdrop, we decided to push a plan to temporarily reduce the increased portion of property tax resulting from this year's rise in publicly announced prices. Focusing on the retiree generation who are not multi-home owners for speculation but are living to protect the single home they have lived in all their lives, we will temporarily ease the property tax increase caused by this year's rise in publicly announced prices, partially freezing the suddenly increased burden at last year's level.
This is precisely "Chong Won-o-style pragmatism," and I will work by thinking only about whether it helps citizens' lives, without asking whether it is conservative or progressive. The Seoul mayor's office is not a place to cling to ideology, but a place to reduce citizens' inconveniences and solve problems."
-Your emphasis on redevelopment and reconstruction is also different from past Democratic Party Seoul mayors.
"I will break the old frame that says 'if the mayor is from the Democratic Party, redevelopment and reconstruction won't happen.' During my 12 years as Seongdong District chief, I actively cooperated on necessary development and took the lead in proposing to Seoul City to resolve problems that got stuck on the ground. I have continued communicating with association heads and I know well where bottlenecks occur. I will dispatch mayor's office-affiliated, renovation-project specialist managers by zone to resolve on-site bottlenecks one by one, such as construction cost disputes, licensing delays, and project feasibility issues. I am confident I can push redevelopment and reconstruction more safely and faster with step-by-step development than Oh Se-hoon."
-The reduction of the long-term holding special deduction has become an issue. What is your view?
"My position on the long-term holding special deduction is firm. Except in cases where the purpose of speculation is clear, the rights of single-home owners must be protected. In particular, the rights of single-home owners who actually reside should be 100% guaranteed, and even for owners who do not reside, we need to broaden protections after case-by-case review to prevent unfair harm.
I am firmly opposed to using taxes as a means to control home prices, and the Lee Jae-myung administration and the Democratic Party share the same view. However, even if the government's policy direction is broadly correct, "shadows" inevitably arise in the process of applying it on the ground. As the head of a local government, I will communicate with the government to remedy these shortcomings and focus my capabilities on upholding the grand principle of protecting end-users and stabilizing the market."
-How do you plan to communicate with the Lee Jae-myung administration?
"As the Seoul mayor represents 10 million citizens, I will cooperate closely where cooperation serves citizens' interests and clearly voice opinions where needed. Rather than Seoul City repeatedly engaging in unnecessary tension and political distancing from the central government as it does now, I think it is far more important to move in step and resolve issues at speed when citizens' lives are at stake. I will actively use the right to attend Cabinet meetings to directly convey and coordinate Seoul's pending issues."
-The Oh Se-hoon camp keeps attacking over past incidents.
"I express deep regret at candidate Oh's stance of sticking to baseless negative offensives from start to finish in this election. Making the race murky with groundless allegations and distortions of fact only hinders citizens' sound judgment and amplifies political distrust—nothing more than typical old-school politics. Rather than negativity that tears down the opponent and tires out voters, I will fight only against citizens' inconveniences and do my utmost to the end with policy and competence."
-There are only a few days left until the vote. What would you say to Seoul citizens?
"It is time for Seoul city affairs to change as well. Citizens want administration that actually solves the inconveniences of daily life—like housing, transportation, safety, and care—rather than showcase administration and showy projects. I will now expand to all of Seoul the efficacy-proven administration verified in Seongdong. I will be a Seoul mayor who gets things done and fights to the end against the inconveniences facing Seoul citizens."
☞Who is Chong Won-o
Born in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, he graduated from Hwayang Middle School in Yeosu and Yeosu High School, and studied economics at the University of Seoul. He served as vice president of the student council at the University of Seoul and also threw himself into the student movement. He entered politics as a secretary to Yang Jae-ho, the Yangcheon District chief elected in the first local elections, and later served as an aide to former lawmaker Lim Jong-seok. He was elected Seongdong District chief in the 6th local elections in 2014 and went on to win three terms.