As housing prices rose, opposition lawmakers in areas designated in the Tohe district criticized the "October 15 Real Estate Measures," but the heads of district offices belonging to the Democratic Party of Korea have not been able to speak out properly because they are wary of the government and the party, causing complaints from residents. The Seoul Metropolitan Government Council issued a statement at Seoul City Hall on the afternoon of the 22nd calling for the immediate withdrawal and minimization of the designation of the entire expansion of the Tohe district in the government's October 15 real estate measures. Fifteen autonomous districts in Seoul participated in the statement. "The government's unilateral and comprehensive regulation is a measure that undermines the foundation of local autonomy and violates residents' property rights," Songpa-gu Mayor Seo Kang-seok, chairman of the district council, said. The head of the district council then urged the immediate withdrawal and minimization of the designation of the Tohe district, the formation of a three-way policy consultative body for the government, Seoul Metropolitan Government, and autonomous districts, and the preparation of deregulation-oriented measures reflecting the voices of the field.
There are a total of 15 autonomous districts that agreed to these statements, including Gangnam, Gangdong, Gwangjin, Dongdaemun, Dobong, Dongjak, Mapo, Seodaemun, Seocho, Songpa, Yangcheon, Yeongdeungpo, Yongsan, Jongno, and Jung-gu. On the contrary, there are 10 autonomous districts that did not agree, including Gangbuk, Gangseo, Gwanak, Guro, Geumcheon, Nowon, Seongdong, Seongbuk, Eunpyeong, and Jungnang-gu.
The head of the autonomous district office who agreed to the statement is a member of the People's Power, except for independent Yongsan-gu chief Park Hee-young, who is a member of the People's Power, and all the heads of the autonomous district office who did not agree are members of the Democratic Party.
Most of the areas that disagreed with the statement were not among the key areas that led to the surge in housing prices in Seoul. For this reason, residents in the area are dissatisfied with being grouped together in Touhe District because they are part of Seoul.
Even in this situation, the head of the district office of the Democratic Party decided not to agree with the statement because it is difficult to express opinions against the party's theory ahead of the 9th local election in June next year.
The October 15 real estate measures are unprecedentedly strong regulations and are a policy that contains a strong message from the perspective of the current government. Due to the nature of local elections, the local political color is strong, and it is burdensome for the head of the district office to speak out against the government's policy considering the nomination of the party ahead of next year's local elections.
[Reporter Han Changho]