“No More New Town Projects”: Mayor Oh

“I will plod ahead while thinking only how history and citizens will judge (me),” said Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon on Monday on the designation of additional sites for the city`s urban redevelopment project.

Mayor Oh told the press at the Seoul City Hall that he would not consider the designation of “New Town” sites for the time being, as real estate prices are now unstable.

However, conflicts over the New Town project will likely continue for a while as the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) has decided to file a complaint with prosecutors against Oh and Grand National Party (GNP) lawmaker Chung Mong-joon.

▽ Seoul Denies Change in Its New Town Policy

“On the designation of an additional “New Town” site, Seoul City and my stance have never changed,” Oh said. “The New Town projects are necessary to improve the residential environment. However, I will rule out further designation as the housing prices are unstable at the moment.”

Oh also added that his sincere remarks on the New Town project have been exploited as an excuse for political attacks. “I will not be swayed by some narrow-minded political groups which have been obsessed with their own interests. Let us now end this exhaustive dispute over New Towns.”

Oh, who urged to stop unnecessary disputes over the issue, said that Seoul will form and run an advisory group on the city’s housing policy, consisting of professors, civic groups and New Town project experts, until the end of the year.

▽ Reason Behind Mayor Oh’s Statement

This was the first time for Oh to release a statement since his inauguration. Oh is now at the center of the New Town controversy, which has been fueled since the last general elections.

In an interview with a business daily on March 28, prior to the parliamentary elections, Oh said, he might review designating 10 or fewer areas for the city`s redevelopment project.

However, on the following day, the Seoul city government argued that the daily misinterpreted some of Oh’s remarks, saying “It is not consistent with the facts.” The city government said that Oh was misunderstood and that it was unclear whether Oh would push another New Town project during his term as stabilizing housing prices was more urgent.

Oh, however, kept silent when candidates from both the ruling and opposition parties promised to make their electorate districts designated as additional districts for Seoul’s New Town redevelopment project during the National Assembly elections.

In an interview with a radio program on April 14, Oh said, “At a time when an additional designation of New Town may heat up real estate prices, Seoul City will not begin a new project. Instead, we will consider designating a fourth one after a substantial progress has been made in the existing first to third New Town projects.”

The UDP criticized Oh, saying, “We feel anger at Oh who has given his explanation in a hurried manner with the end of the elections after a long silence.”

Some GNP lawmakers have also begun to criticize Oh, saying that Oh and the city’s approach on New Town projects were wrong and the city’s policy has been inconsistent.

▽ Disputes Continue

Apart from the press briefing, Oh also sent a letter to managing editors and editorial writers of media outlets on the same day.

The letter, which consists of five A4-size pieces of paper, describes Oh’s thoughts on the New Town dispute. It is very rare for a mayor to send this type of letter to media firms.

“I vividly remember and understand the sorrow of homelessness more than anyone else because (my family) used to live a hard life moving from one rented house to another when I was child,” the letter reads.

“That is why I cannot help but constantly worry about the ordinary people, who will be forced to move to rented houses in the outskirts of the city, feeling a sense of deprivation.”

On the side effects that can be caused by home price increases, Oh said, “I cannot let the issue, which has a very significant impact on the livelihood of ordinary people, swayed by narrow-mined politicians` greed or instigation.”

The dispute is expected to continue for a while as political groups look at the issue as a means of taking the upper hand or gaining more votes, while Oh and the city government plan to stay firm on their stance.

pen@donga.com