Kim Jung-tae, the People Power Party's candidate for Dongjak District Chief, unveiled his "Dongjak SAVE" pledges aimed at reducing residents' cost-of-living burdens across taxes, education, housing, and transportation, presenting livelihood issues as his top priority.
In the pledges announced on the 30th, Kim disclosed four measures to cut living costs. Under the "Property SAVE" pillar, he said he would immediately launch a "Tax Bomb Response Task Force" within the district office to ease the property tax burden on owner-occupiers of single homes, and would work with the National Assembly to push for reductions in the comprehensive real estate tax. He also plans to minimize charges arising during redevelopment and reconstruction projects by rationalizing public contributions and securing national and city government funding.
"I will block the imminent tax bomb and protect the assets of Dongjak residents through swift and proper redevelopment and reconstruction," Kim said.
The pledges also include education and housing measures. Kim said he would establish Global Kids Centers staffed by native English speakers in every administrative neighborhood, building a total of 15 such centers, and would secure 1,000 "Saessak Studio" units for university students with interest-free deposit support of up to 30 million won. He also promised a "Dongjak Hagwon Pickup Riding" program linked with private academies to ensure students' safe return home.
In transportation, he plans to provide free city bus rides for senior citizens aged 70 and older and to expand the on-demand "Donghaeng Bus" service for residents in hilly areas and those with mobility difficulties. He also plans to raise the K-Pass refund rate for young office workers using Isu Station and Sadang Station to 50 percent, while expanding the "1,000-won breakfast" program for university students and providing half-price jeonse (a Korean lease system requiring a large lump-sum deposit instead of monthly rent) along with monthly rent support of 300,000 won.
Kim also presented a large-scale development vision for regional growth. He plans to attract Starfield and Traders to the Suhyup site in Noryangjin to create a cultural complex shopping mall, and to build a land bridge connecting Noryangjin and Yeouido.
"I will make shopping and culture enjoyable and workplaces nearby to complete a self-sufficient economic city," Kim stressed. "I will elevate Dongjak beyond the four Gangnam districts to become the center of Seoul."
He also presented life-oriented pledges, including the installation of hub-style modern recycling stations in areas densely populated with villas and detached houses, and the operation of an emergency pediatric service in cooperation with Chung-Ang University Hospital.
