Oh Se-hoon: “Housing insecurity is the biggest cause of the drop in government approval ratings”

[Financial News] Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon cited housing insecurity caused by rising home-sale prices and jeonse and monthly rental prices as the biggest reason for the decline in the Lee Jae-myung government’s approval rating on its handling of state affairs. He also strongly criticized the government’s push for prosecutorial reform, asking, “Is it acceptable to dismantle one part of the national system?”
At a press conference at Seoul City Hall on the 7th marking his 100th day in office in the ninth popularly elected term, Mayor Oh was asked what the current government was missing most. “The president’s approval rating for his handling of state affairs has recently been falling sharply, and I take that as an appeal from citizens, almost a cry of desperation,” he said.
Mayor Oh singled out housing as a key factor in the decline in the government’s approval rating.
“A government that has failed to keep home prices and jeonse and monthly rental prices low cannot receive favorable reviews,” he said. “On top of the so-called ‘triple-strength’ trend, with home-sale and jeonse and monthly rental prices all rising, it is even difficult to find jeonse properties,” he asserted.
He also mentioned the stock market.
Mayor Oh said, “I think the public’s assessment may be turning unfavorable, particularly among people who have suffered unexpected financial losses, have little experience with investing, and entered the stock market late.” 
He also sharply criticized the government’s approach to prosecutorial reform.
Mayor Oh said, “Many people are anxious as they watch the government neutralize prosecutorial power and transfer all investigative authority to the police. I think the helplessness and disappointment people feel when sound proposals are not accepted at all may have collectively led to a loss of trust in the government’s handling of state affairs.”
Finally, Mayor Oh made clear that he would raise concerns with the government in his capacity as Seoul mayor.
Mayor Oh said, “As Seoul mayor, one of whose main duties is to support citizens in their everyday lives, I have spoken out about these issues and made recommendations to ensure they proceed in a sound direction. I will continue to speak out against changes that tout reforms in the wrong and undesirable direction.”

[email protected] Lee Seol-young Reporter