Seoul mayoral candidates Jung Won-oh of the Democratic Party and Oh Se-hoon of the People Power Party clashed during a televised debate on Thursday.
The confrontation highlights the deep ideological divide over urban management in South Korea's capital, where housing costs and infrastructure safety remain critical voter concerns.
The candidates engaged in an exchange focusing on real estate policies and public safety. Jung said that Oh's approach to housing relied too heavily on blaming the central government and previous city administrations [1].
Oh countered by criticizing the record of the previous mayor. He said that former Mayor Park Won-soon canceled redevelopment and reconstruction projects in 389 locations [2]. This move, Oh said, stifled the city's ability to modernize and provide new housing units.
In response to housing supply questions, data indicated that 39,000 apartment units were supplied based on construction starts between 2022 and 2024 [1]. The candidates disagreed on whether this volume was sufficient to stabilize the volatile Seoul market.
The debate shifted to infrastructure safety, where Jung focused on construction failures. Specifically, he targeted the "missing rebar" issue at the GTX Samseong Station project [1]. Jung used the example to question the current administration's oversight of major transit developments.
Both candidates sought to differentiate their platforms by framing the other as responsible for the city's current vulnerabilities. While Oh emphasized the need for deregulation to spur growth, Jung pushed for stricter safety protocols, and more accountable governance [1], [2].
“"부동산, 정부·전임 시장 탓만"”
The debate underscores a fundamental conflict between the two leading parties: the People Power Party's preference for deregulation and private-sector-led redevelopment versus the Democratic Party's emphasis on public safety and government accountability. With housing and safety as the primary flashpoints, the election will likely serve as a referendum on whether Seoul should prioritize rapid urban renewal or more cautious, state-led oversight.
