South Korea’s housing debate has widened after the government’s Aug. 13 measures, with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Democratic Party floor leader Han Byung-do and People Power Party policy chief Rhee Yi-ja divided over Yongsan Park and redevelopment policy. Oh said simultaneous increases in sale prices, jeonse deposits and monthly rents showed a "triple strength" market that distrusted government policy, and argued that redevelopment and rebuilding—not punitive taxation, tighter regulation or use of Seoul’s last large green space—should drive supply. He said easing restrictions could allow construction on 310,000 homes to begin by 2031. Han backed reviewing the Special Act on the Creation of Yongsan Park, citing nearly 20 years of demographic and housing-market change and the need for quality, affordable homes for young people and newlyweds near jobs and infrastructure. Rhee called for suspending the Yongsan discussion until public consensus is reached on the park’s future, soil remediation and environmental impact, while supporting higher floor-area ratios for private and public redevelopment. The Democratic Party and People Power Party are also moving toward an amendment that could allow general redevelopment and rebuilding projects to reach 1.1 times the legal floor-area-ratio cap and projects near subway stations to reach 1.3 times the cap, although the scope and public contributions remain under negotiation. Related market data showed high-end Gangnam prices and transactions weakening, while Seoul-wide apartment prices continued to rise, and a Democratic Party tax simulation intensified debate over property-tax increases.