"The Seongnam mayor should not be someone who merely watches the central government's cues, but someone who represents citizens' demands."
Shin Sang-jin, the People Power Party candidate for Seongnam mayor, highlighted the mayor's role in protecting citizens' interests while sharply criticizing the government's real estate policies, including limits on Bundang reconstruction volume and property regulations.
Shin sat down with Seoul Economic Daily on the morning of the 6th at his campaign office in Yatap-dong and shared his stance and determination as he seeks re-election as Seongnam mayor in the June 3 local elections.
Having stepped down from his incumbent mayoral position to run in the election, Shin described the feeling as "like being out on the Siberian plains," yet expressed confidence as the right person to untangle complex issues such as reconstruction of first-generation new towns and real estate regulations — matters of high interest to citizens.
"The government limited the pilot district quota to 12,000 units, but actual applications reached 59,000 units," Shin pointed out. "Residents' desire for reconstruction is that strong, yet the government is uniformly controlling volume without considering each city's characteristics."
He continued, "Goyang received an increased quota despite not having many applications, while Bundang's quota remained unchanged. The standards are unclear, and it ultimately amounts to desk-bound administration." He added, "I held a press conference at the National Assembly with lawmakers Kim Eun-hye and Ahn Cheol-soo, but at the time, candidate Kim Byung-wook (the Democratic Party's Seongnam mayoral candidate) said nothing. Talking about abolishing the volume limit now is too little, too late."
Shin also expressed strong dissatisfaction with real estate regulations that cover all of Seongnam. "They bundled Sujeong, Jungwon, and Bundang together under triple regulations," he said. "In reconstruction zones, rights succession is restricted after project approval, blocking transactions altogether. It's a policy that ignores reality."
Regarding the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's relocation plans, he cited the case of the Yatap-dong relocation complex. "The ministry announced a 1,500-unit relocation complex without sufficient consultation with Seongnam City," he explained. "Due to strong resident backlash, the city ultimately canceled it." He added, "The ministry initially said the Yeosu 2 District and Geumto District were impossible due to time constraints, but designated them as supply sites again a year later. There is no policy consistency."
On redevelopment and reconstruction policy overall, he argued, "The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is repeating patchwork policies without a future vision." Citing the case of small-scale housing maintenance projects, he said, "Within a single neighborhood, projects are split into multiple pieces, intensifying haphazard development and resident conflict. This is the result of repeating short-term prescriptions instead of planning for the entire city."
"Seongnam is a city that has accumulated more than 20 years of urban renewal experience," he emphasized. "Instead of uniform regulations, the government should grant customized discretion to cities like Seongnam." He added, "The Seongnam mayor should not be someone who watches only the central government's cues, but someone who represents citizens' demands. If necessary, we must fight the government to secure what citizens need."
Regarding the People Power Party's declining public support following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol, Shin leveled unreserved criticism at the party leadership.
"Citizens say, 'The mayor worked hard, but I don't want to vote because of the People Power Party,'" he said. "The leadership should collectively resign and move to a new election system." He made no effort to hide his antipathy, saying that if the Jang Dong-hyuk leadership remains and comes to Seongnam for campaign support, "I would tell them to step down even during the campaign rally."
As a figure who could take charge if the party leadership collectively resigns, he mentioned former Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-soo, evaluating him as "a person with political experience and integrative leadership."
Despite the difficult circumstances, Shin emphasized his achievements. He cited improvements in integrity and fiscal health as major accomplishments of the eighth popularly elected administration.
"Seongnam City previously had a strong image of corruption due to issues such as Daejang-dong, Seongnam FC, and Baekhyeon-dong, but much of that has been resolved," he explained. "The integrity rating rose from grade 4 to grade 2, and the fiscal evaluation climbed from the lowest to the highest grade."
He also emphasized, "The pledge implementation rate is 97.4%, and the completion rate is 90.4%. Seongnam City is currently a debt-free city and has maintained the nation's top fiscal self-reliance rate for three consecutive years." He further cited the attraction of POSCO Holdings (005490.KS) and LIG Nex1, the normalization of Baekhyeon MICE, the extension of the Pangyo Line 8, and the Wirye-Samdong Line push as representative achievements.
"Seongnam will develop into an advanced industry-centered city going forward," Shin projected. "It can grow into a structure connecting Pangyo Techno Valley, Ori Station Techno Valley, and the bio cluster."
"Through the administrative experience and achievements of the past four years, I am ready to realize Seongnam's future value," he added. "I am confident I am the candidate best suited for advanced industry development, job creation, and creating a transparent city."
