Seoul Mayor Fiercely Opposes Housing in Yongsan Park, Citing Past Presidents

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has voiced strong opposition to proposals for building housing within the planned Yongsan Park. In a Facebook post on August 8, Oh expressed deep concern over reports suggesting such plans, stating that even continued discussion causes public anxiety.

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I could not help but feel deep concern upon reading reports that the plan to supply housing within Yongsan Park is being reviewed.

"Housing supply is important. However, there are principles that must be followed in supply," Oh wrote. He criticized the idea of building apartments by "demolishing the last assets that future generations should enjoy," calling it an unsustainable urban policy.

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Housing supply is important. However, there are principles that must be followed in supply.

Oh highlighted that the proposal contradicts the principles of the Democratic Party, citing former President Roh Moo-hyun's stance that Yongsan Park should be a "precious asset for future generations" with no buildings on its surface. He also noted that the Moon Jae-in administration had pursued plans to develop Yongsan Park as a green space in line with the 2007 Yongsan Park Special Act. "If the idea of building apartments in that space comes up now, it is a self-contradiction of the principles and philosophy established by the Democratic Party government," he stated.

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Building apartments by demolishing the last assets that future generations should enjoy is not a sustainable urban policy.

Emphasizing the need for long-term vision, Oh warned that "policies made in haste and improvisation only increase the costs that future generations will have to bear." He concluded by stating his absolute refusal to agree to any plan that would damage Yongsan Park, even by a centimeter.

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Former President Roh Moo-hyun established the principle of not building even a single building on the surface, calling Yongsan Park a 'precious asset for future generations.'