“Seoul’s municipal policies will be focused on ‘going together with the socially neglected,’ providing more benefits to those in need.” – An excerpt of his inaugural address (Jul. 1, 2022)

The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) announced that Mayor Oh Se-hoon was selected as a Champion Mayor by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) for prioritizing his policies to focus on ‘going together with the socially neglected’ and taking the initiative to reduce inequality. This is a feat achieved in his first year in office, and going forward, Mayor Oh Se-hoon will share the city’s vision and policies of ‘going together with the socially neglected’—through public projects and programs that focus on livelihood (i.e. Seoul Safety Income Project), housing (i.e. high-quality rental housing), education (i.e. Seoul Learn), and medical (expanded public healthcare) support—with 63 cities around the world, including Paris and Tokyo.

The OECD Champion Mayors for Inclusive Growth Initiative is a coalition created in 2016 by the OECD with the supports from the Ford Foundation and others. Mayors from 63 cities around the world, including major metropolises such as Paris, Tokyo, Rome, Brussels, Montreal, and Bogotá (as of June, 2023, including Seoul), serve as Champion Mayors, sharing their experiences in tackling inequality and bringing the voice of local government to the international community.

Since the launch of the OECD Champion Mayors for Inclusive Growth Initiative in March 2016, more than 100 Champion Mayors have shared best practices for inclusive growth on a range of issues, including education, labor, housing, environment, climate, and youth, and have called for action from international multilateral organizations such as the OECD, G7*/U7**, and G20/U20.

* G7 (Group of 7): An international forum consisting of seven economically advanced nations (i.e. United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Canada, and Japan) where the heads of government or state meet annually to discuss issues of international concern.

** U7 (Urban 7): A council of city leaders that can influence the G7 summit to promote international communication between cities by requesting the G7’s active support.

Dagur B. Eggertsson, Chair of the Champion Mayors for Inclusive Growth Initiative, expressed great interest in Seoul’s vision and policies of ‘going together with the socially neglected’ to solve the problem of urban polarization, saying, “I am deeply touched by Mayor Oh Se-hoon’s commitment to promoting inclusive growth and reducing inequality, and wish him to share his experience with other cities.”

As a Champion Mayor, Mayor Oh Se-hoon will share Seoul’s vision for inclusive growth with the international community until his mayoral term ends.

In an effort to promote its vision and policies of ‘going together with the socially neglected,’ Seoul is focusing on four projects*** in four areas to ensure that vulnerable people are not excluded from fair competition due to economic and physical reasons, and it is expected to share Mayor Oh Se-hoon’s vision and experience as a champion mayor with other cities overseas.

*** Four projects encompassing livelihood (i.e. Seoul Safety Income Project), housing (i.e. high-quality rental housing), education (i.e. Seoul Learn), and medical (i.e. expanding public healthcare) support.

• Livelihood: Seoul Safety Income Project

– Details: The income security system provides more support for people with low incomes; eligible households receive 50% of the amount needed to bring their income up to 85% of the standard median income.

 ※ In July, 2022, 500 households below 50% of the standard median income were selected and assisted (for three years until 2025); in 2023, the eligibility criteria was expanded to below 85% of the standard median income, and now 1,100 households have been selected and will be assisted starting in July

– Aim: Solving the problem of income polarization and eliminating the “blind spots” of the welfare system to build a new welfare system for the future.

• Housing: High-quality rental housing

– Aim: Changing the existing rental housing paradigm of supply in quantity to a new one that mixes for-sale and rental housing to eliminate discriminatory factors and provide quality rental housing that everyone wants to live in.

• Education: Seoul Learn

– Details: Ensure equitable educational opportunities for vulnerable people who have difficulty accessing educational resources due to socioeconomic reasons by providing free access to excellent educational content and mentoring through a public platform.

– Aim: (Restoring the “educational ladder”) Eliminating the perpetuation of inequality and social class stratification caused by differential educational opportunities based on parental socioeconomic status.

• Medical: Expanded public healthcare

– Details: Plans to build additional public hospital and public rehabilitation hospital as well as Seobu Dental Hospital for the Disabled and the Respiratory & Infectious Disease Center (RIDC) at Boramae Medical Center.

– Aim: Expanding public health infrastructure to improve accessibility for vulnerable people and enable rapid medical response by building three public hospitals and more.