Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said on Dec. 9 the Seoul Metropolitan Government will ensure and prioritize public safety via the effective operation of the metropolitan government, amid lingering confusion caused by the martial law incident and subsequent impeachment of the president.
He made the remarks while presiding over a meeting of ranking SMG officials at Seoul City Hall.
“I’m more worried that the political chaos could bring about an economic slump, causing hardships for self-employed businesses, and SMG will support entrepreneurs suffering difficulties by implementing projects designed to give a leg-up to small business owners and merchants.
The help will range from offering financial support and ways of boosting sales.
Mayor Oh said he will preside over an emergency economy meeting on Tuesdays and Fridays every week.
Mayor Oh said he will look into SMG’s economic policies, such as prices, consumption expenditure, the small business delinquency rate and venture and SME support.
The city will implement immediate support policies in areas where the pubic is facing difficulties.
Mayor Oh said SMG will ramp up support for the homeless, the elderly and people in the lower-income bracket, who are vulnerable to winter cold spells.
The metropolitan government has designated two night emergency care centers and four others specializing in specifics diseases since November. It also plans to expand them, Mayor Oh said.
Mayor Oh said, “I feel a heavy responsibility as Seoul mayor to stabilize public livelihood.” He stressed the establishment of public office holders’ integrity and their political neutrality.
All public office holders, including the military and police, are required to do given duties at places where they have to stay for the people.
SMG officials, including Mayor Oh, will do their utmost to cause no inconveniences during people’s daily life, he said.
Seoul Mayor Oh Ensures ‘Seoul is Safe’
With the political confusion caused by the issuance of martial law, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon pleaded for foreign tourists to visit Seoul without misgivings.
Seoul Mayor Oh stressed the safe situation of Seoul, urging foreign tourists to visit the city, speaking in English, Japanese and Chinese.
Oh made the appeal while presiding over an emergency economic meeting at Seoul City Hall on Dec. 11.
He said, “Amid the recent political confusion, the world asks us ‘Is Seoul Safe?’ and my answer as Seoul mayor is clear: Seoul is safe and please come to Seoul at ease.”
He explained the safe situation of the city in the three foreign languages.
“In reality, large-scale rallies took place in the recent few days, but there was not even one accident,” the mayor said, adding that it was attributable to people’s matured sense of citizenship, prioritizing safety and efforts on the part of all authorities, including the central government and the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
In safety warnings, some major foreign countries told their people to stay away from rallies and districts with lots of people.
The tourism community, which had prepared much to welcome foreign tourists with diverse year-end events, was in crisis, Mayor Oh said, citing an increasing number of cases in which foreign tourists had cancelled or curtailed their planned visit to South Korea.
Mayor Oh said SMG will take steps so that foreign tourists can come to Seoul without misgivings.
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