Democratic Party mayoral candidate Jeong Won-oh and People Power Party candidate Oh Se-hoon clashed during a televised debate over real-estate policy and public safety.
The confrontation comes as both candidates seek to sway undecided voters just before the start of the pre-vote period for the 2024 Seoul mayoral election.
Real-estate policy served as a primary flashpoint during the broadcast. Jeong said that 39,000 units [1] were supplied based on construction starts between 2022 and 2024.
Oh responded by challenging the accuracy of the Democratic candidate's narrative. He said Jeong twisted facts and lied regarding the previous administration's handling of urban development. Specifically, Oh pointed to the cancellation of 389 redevelopment sites [1] during his own previous tenure as mayor.
Beyond housing, the candidates debated public safety and the effectiveness of city governance. Each candidate used the platform to argue that the opponent's record was insufficient to meet the needs of the city's residents.
The debate focused heavily on accountability for past failures. Oh said that Jeong was misrepresenting the history of city planning to gain a political advantage. In turn, Jeong emphasized the concrete number of housing units delivered as evidence of a successful strategy to stabilize the market.
Both candidates are now entering the final stretch of the campaign as the pre-vote period begins, with housing remaining the central issue for many Seoul voters.
“39,000 units were supplied based on construction starts between 2022 and 2024.”
The intensity of the debate reflects the critical role that housing affordability and urban redevelopment play in Seoul's political landscape. By focusing on specific numbers of housing units and cancelled sites, both candidates are attempting to frame the election as a referendum on administrative competence and the ability to manage the city's volatile real-estate market.
