Jeon enters Seoul mayor race with bold overhaul

Feb 03, 2026, 08:01 am

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Rep. Jeon Hyun-hee of the Democratic Party announces her bid for Seoul mayor at a press conference at the National Assembly on Feb. 2. / Photo by Shim Jun-bo

Jeon Hyun-hee, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party, officially declared her candidacy for mayor of Seoul on Sunday, pledging to dismantle the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) and build a massive “Seoul Dome” in its place.

At a press conference held at the National Assembly, Jeon said she would become a “CEO-style mayor who brings in money” and complete what she called a vision for “a global No. 1 Seoul.” She unveiled a broad municipal roadmap that includes dismantling the DDP, constructing a world-class arena, introducing AI-driven administration, and eradicating what she described as the “deep-rooted evils” of the previous Yoon Suk Yeol administration.

Jeon described herself as “someone who stood at the forefront of creating the Lee Jae-myung government,” vowing to put an end to what she called Mayor Oh Se-hoon’s “showcase-style administration” and replace it with a results-oriented, pragmatic approach.

A centerpiece of her campaign is the proposed demolition of the DDP. “The past decade of Seoul under Mayor Oh has been nothing short of incompetence,” Jeon said, adding that a fixation on symbolic projects has turned Seoul into “a giant sleeping city.” Calling the DDP a prime example of exhibition-driven governance that damaged the Dongdaemun commercial district, she pledged to dismantle it. She likened the move to former President Kim Young-sam’s decision to demolish the former Japanese colonial headquarters.

In its place, Jeon proposed building the “Seoul Dome,” a global-scale arena designed to host year-round K-pop concerts, including performances by BTS, positioning Seoul as a “profit-generating tourism and cultural hub.”

Emphasizing her “CEO mayor” identity, Jeon said the root cause of many civic problems is a lack of financial resources. “I will not be an incompetent mayor who cannot protect citizens’ happiness due to a lack of budget,” she said. Citing her experience founding and leading a law firm, she pledged to apply “exceptional management skills and a CEO mindset” to generate revenue directly for the city.

Jeon also framed the election as a defining moment for the new administration. “As a Democratic Party supreme council member alongside Lee Jae-myung, I helped block the Yoon administration’s illegal emergency rule and insurrection,” she said, adding that the Seoul mayoral race would be “the final punctuation mark in dismantling Yoon’s insurrection and a milestone for the success of the Lee government.”

She stressed balanced regional development, noting that past policies sacrificed northern Seoul for Gangnam’s growth. Positioning herself as the only candidate with experience representing both Gangnam and northern districts, she vowed to pursue growth that benefits both sides of the Han River.

Jeon outlined seven core policy pledges, including resolving civil complaints within 10 minutes through an AI-powered “AI Seoul Sinmungo,” completing a housing ladder from public to private sectors, sharply reducing telecommunications fees to restore “communications sovereignty,” and establishing a Seoul-style basic income system for caregiving.

Wrapping up her announcement, Jeon called for Seoul’s first woman mayor. “It’s time for a woman to lead Seoul,” she said. “I will be a mayor who earns money for the city, cares for citizens with a mother’s heart, and delivers both growth and welfare.”

#Jeon Hyun-hee #Seoul mayoral race #Democratic Party #DDP demolition #Seoul Dome