Oh Se-hoon Tells Ruling Party, "Let's Find Alternatives Such as the Tancheon Water Reclamation Center Instead of Yongsan Park"

[Financial News] As tensions between the government and Seoul Metropolitan Government over the housing supply plan for the Yongsan Park site continue to drag on, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon proposed on the 22nd that the ruling party work together to identify practical alternative sites, such as the Tancheon Water Reclamation Center.
According to a Seoul Metropolitan Government spokesperson, Oh discussed key issues during a luncheon meeting that day with Kim Young-bae, the Seoul chapter chair of the Democratic Party of Korea, including expanding housing supply in Seoul, revitalizing redevelopment and reconstruction, and the Yongsan Park issue.
On the Yongsan Park issue, Oh made clear his longstanding position that he fully understands the need to expand housing supply, but opposes using the main Yongsan Park site, which is tied to citizens' quality of life, for housing development, the spokesperson said. He also noted that the various administrative procedures and soil contamination cleanup would take considerable time, making it realistically difficult to even begin construction within the current administration's term.
Since there is no disagreement on the goal of expanding housing supply in Seoul, Oh proposed finding alternative sites together so the plan can deliver real supply effects. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said it is also actively seeking alternative sites, including the Tancheon Water Reclamation Center, where housing supply would be possible even if it takes some time.
Oh also stressed the importance of prior consultation between the government and the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Rather than announcing supply candidate sites first and then asking Seoul for cooperation, he said that sufficient consultation before any announcement would allow both sides to review in advance whether the sites are actually feasible and what problems may arise, and to present more workable alternatives.
It is understood that the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the government, and the ruling party reached a shared view on the need to cooperate on revitalizing redevelopment and reconstruction to expand housing supply in Seoul.
The spokesperson also corrected the record regarding Kim Young-bae's claim earlier in the day, citing the Seoripul District case to argue that Oh's position then and now is different. "At the time, in response to the government's request to lift the Greenbelt, Mayor Oh clearly stated the principle of considering only already damaged areas in a limited way, while ruling out any additional Greenbelt lifting for future generations," the spokesperson said. "It was an issue discussed with the government on the premise of supplying Mirinae House public housing program units for newlyweds."
The spokesperson added, "The Seoul Metropolitan Government will continue to work closely with the government and the ruling party to find alternatives that can meaningfully expand housing supply, including redevelopment and reconstruction."
[email protected] Jeon Min-kyung Reporter