Seoul Mayor Presses Housing and Quality-of-Life Agenda Ahead of Appeal Ruling
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said redevelopment, urban design and social support will remain central to his agenda as rising housing costs strain residents and an appellate ruling approaches in his political funds case.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has renewed his focus on housing supply, urban design and residents’ well-being as the city confronts rising rental costs and an aging population. His policy push comes weeks before an appellate court is due to rule in a political funds case that could affect his tenure.
Speaking at a press conference marking the first 100 days of his latest term, Oh defended his innocence while outlining priorities for the capital. The appellate ruling is scheduled for Oct. 23. He is challenging a lower court judgment that fined him 10 million won for violating the Political Funds Act. He could ultimately lose office if the conviction and sentence are upheld in a final ruling.
Housing formed a central part of the mayor’s presentation. Seoul residents have faced mounting pressure from higher monthly rents, larger jeonse deposits and rising home prices. Jeonse is a rental system in which tenants provide a large refundable deposit instead of paying conventional monthly rent.
Data cited at the briefing showed Seoul’s jeonse deposits rose 5.91 percent during the first eight months of the year, the sharpest increase for that period in 15 years. Apartment rents increased 5.15 percent in the first seven months, more than four times the pace recorded a year earlier. Average monthly rent exceeded 1.6 million won in July.
Oh said redevelopment and reconstruction remain the city’s main tools for easing the housing shortage. Seoul aims to begin construction on 310,000 homes through those programs by 2031, with faster approvals intended to shorten project timelines. The mayor said approvals reached about 40,000 units between January and August, roughly 40 percent more than a year earlier.
The city is seeking additional central government support. Its requests include temporarily relaxing restrictions on transfers of rights to new apartments in redevelopment and reconstruction projects, as well as permitting greater floor space where needed to improve financial viability.
Beyond housing, Oh argued that improvements to public space can raise everyday quality of life and strengthen Seoul’s appeal. He pointed to efforts to add greenery and leisure areas along the Han River as an example of how urban design can shape residents’ experience of the city.
He also identified loneliness and emotional well-being as longer-term challenges as South Korea becomes a super-aged society. Oh said Seoul’s next stage of development should combine physical infrastructure with policies that help residents remain socially connected, framing the issue as one that future city administrations will need to continue addressing.