Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon exchanged greetings with people from political, government and social circles at the 2025 New Year’s gathering, hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Jan. 6.
Among some 600 people on hand at the gathering, which started with a silent tribute to those who were killed in the Jeju Air crash, were Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Chairman Choi Ho-jung of the Seoul City Council, KCCI Chairman Chey Tae-won and Superintendent Jung Geun-shik of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education.
Mayor Oh started his New Year’s message, saying that he offered condolences to the victims of the plane crash and their bereaved families that brought great sorrow to the nation. He urged joint efforts to make society safer, without the repetition of such tragedies.
“This year, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will redouble efforts to make people’s life stable and affluent, SMG’s most important responsibility,” Mayor Oh said.
“Seoul’s performances, ranking sixth in global competitiveness according to the Mori Memorial Foundation and 1st in an integrity survey of public entities by the Anti-corruption & Civil Rights Commission, are just the beginning.
And this year, I myself will lead efforts to lessen SMG’s regulatory authority by concentrating on a ‘war against regulations’ and revive the private sector’s dynamics, thus changing great flows of the national economy,” he said.
In his New Year’s message, issued last Dec. 31. Mayor Oh revealed his determination to make an environment of innovation and creativeness by accelerating regulatory reform.
He proposed first and second measures to make a public contest of unnecessary regulations as well as ease the mandatory percentage of commercial space in the mixed housing and shop buildings and expanding the environment impact evaluation exception.
Ushering in 2025, Oh said he will make Seoul a metropolis, respected by the world, after overcoming a crisis.
“Despite the immense challenges, such as political chaos, international credit crisis and economic uncertainties, Seoul is a metropolis that has ever changed crises into opportunities,” he said.
Mayor Oh picked achievements he had made since his inauguration as the eighth publicly elected mayor, naming “stepstone income” which offers income to people in the low-income bracket; “Seoul Learn” for providing free internet lecture services to students in the low-income bracket; and “Beforehand My Home,” a long-term rental house for newlywed couples.
He also cited “Climate Card” for allowing unlimited subway and bus travel, “Wrist Doctor 9988,” a smart wrist watch for the health of Seoulites and the Seoul International Garden Show 2024.
Seoul Mayor revealed his willingness to eradicate restrictions in a full-fledged fashion.
Mayor Oh, saying that the smallest is the best way, said he will stage a “war against regulations,” showing determination to lift as many as up to half of the regulations.
He said the National Assembly should stop a wrong march to compete in raising legislation bills, by the mistake of thinking more legislation is their achievements.
Mayor Oh added that historically there were prosperity cases through the reducing of regulations, but no state had been successful with more regulations.
Mayor Oh also disclosed his willingness to invest in future industries, such as AI, bio and robot.
“Today, we have to plant apple trees to reap the fruits of tomorrow, and gifted manpower around the world will be able to converge in Seoul and ample research money needs to be invested,” he said.
Lastly, he said, “If we join forces and cooperate, Seoul will be stronger and make a leap forward.”
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