Seoul mayoral candidates Jung Won-oh and Oh Se-hoon clashed over real estate and safety policies during their first and final televised debate [1].
The confrontation highlights the deep divide between the candidates on how to address Seoul's chronic housing shortages and urban safety concerns before voters head to the polls.
Jung Won-oh, representing the Democratic Party of Korea, attacked the housing supply record of his opponent. Jung said that between 2022 and 2024, only 39,000 units [1] were supplied based on construction starts. He said Oh had not met even half of his promised targets.
Oh Se-hoon, representing the People Power Party, countered by shifting the focus to previous administration failures. Oh said that former Mayor Park Won-soon had canceled 389 redevelopment and reconstruction projects [2]. He said that the previous administration did not pay enough attention to remodeling efforts.
However, a point of contention emerged regarding the specific number of canceled projects. While Jung criticized Oh for the cancellation of 389 sites, Oh said he had not canceled that many projects during his previous tenure as mayor [1].
The debate, broadcast by YTN, served as the final major televised encounter before the start of early voting [1]. The candidates used the platform to challenge the feasibility of each other's pledges and to question the integrity of their opponent's past administrative records. Both men focused heavily on the intersection of urban safety and the speed of housing delivery, a primary concern for many Seoul residents.
Throughout the exchange, the candidates remained sharply divided on the methodology of urban renewal. Jung said there is a need for meeting specific numerical supply targets to stabilize prices, while Oh focused on the removal of regulatory hurdles that he said had been improperly implemented by his predecessors [2].
“"(Oh) 본인이 약속한 것의 절반도 못 했습니다."”
The disagreement over the 389 canceled redevelopment sites and the 39,000 housing units illustrates a broader struggle over the narrative of urban development in Seoul. By focusing on numerical failures and administrative reversals, both candidates are attempting to frame the other as either inefficient or unreliable. The outcome of the election will likely determine whether Seoul pursues a more regulated, state-led supply model or a deregulated, market-driven approach to urban renewal.
