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Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon Seeks Historic Third Term in June Elections

South Korea's main opposition People Power Party has nominated incumbent Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon as its candidate for the June 3 local elections. He will face Chong Won-o of the ruling Democratic Party in a contest he frames as a crucial check on the current administration. Oh, aiming for his third consecutive term, criticized the government's policies and laid out a vision focused on co-prosperity and affordable housing. The mayor has a long political history in Seoul, having first won the office in 2006.

Key Points: Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon Nominated for Re-election by Opposition PPP

  • Oh wins three-way primary
  • Faces DP rival Chong Won-o
  • Election set for June 3
  • Oh seeks fifth non-consecutive term
  • Criticizes Lee Jae Myung administration
2 min read

South Korea's Oppn party nominates incumbent Oh Se-hoon as candidate for Seoul mayor

South Korea's opposition PPP nominates incumbent Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon to run for a third consecutive term in the June local elections against DP's Chong Won-o.

"These local elections are... the final battleground for the restoration of the rule of law and balanced democracy. - Oh Se-hoon"

Seoul, April 18

South Korea's main opposition People Power Party said on Saturday it has chosen incumbent Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon as its candidate for the mayoral race in the June 3 local elections.

Oh beat PPP Rep. Park Soo-min and former PPP Rep. Yun Hee-suk in a three-way primary, Rep. Park Duk-hyum, the party's nomination committee chief, said, setting him up against candidate Chong Won-o of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) in the mayoral election.

Oh will be aiming to win his third consecutive and fifth non-consecutive term as mayor of Seoul, reports Yonhap news agency.

In a press conference after the announcement, Oh cast the Seoul mayoralty as the "last safeguard" against the "recklessness" of the Lee Jae Myung administration.

"These local elections are not routine elections held every four years but the final battleground for the restoration of the rule of law and balanced democracy," he said at the party's headquarters.

Oh pledged that in the event he is reelected, he will take it as the citizens' command to rebuild the opposition party. The mayor appeared to refer to the disarray within the PPP following former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration in 2024.

While accusing the ruling party of failed real estate policies, Oh laid out a five-point vision for the capital city, centred on the theme of co-prosperity and affordable home ownership.

On his DP rival, he said Chong's administrative philosophy will likely end up hurting him, and he expects citizens to make a "wise" choice.

In a Facebook post, Chong congratulated Oh on the nomination and said he looks forward to a "fair and honourable contest that reflects the dignity of Seoul's citizens."

Born in 1961, Oh entered politics in 2000 after winning a parliamentary seat in Seoul's Gangnam district. Though he announced his retirement from politics four years later, he made a comeback in 2006 by becoming the first Seoul mayor in their 40s.

Oh won reelection but resigned after staking his mayoralty on the results of a referendum on free school meals in 2011.

After 10 years of absence from the political scene, he returned to City Hall by winning the April 2021 by-election and won reelection in 2022.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
A mayor aiming for a fifth term! That's a very long political career. In India, we often see fresh faces in local elections. Wonder if long incumbency is good for a dynamic city like Seoul.
V
Vikram M
His comment about the election being the "final battleground" sounds quite dramatic. Politics everywhere seems to be about high-stakes narratives now. Just hope the actual governance doesn't get lost in the rhetoric.
S
Sarah B
The article mentions he resigned over a school meals referendum in 2011. That shows some principle, taking responsibility. We need more of that accountability in politics globally.
R
Rohit P
Co-prosperity and affordable homes should be the priority for any metro mayor, be it Seoul or Mumbai. Good to see it's a central theme. Hope he has a solid plan and not just empty slogans.
K
Kavya N
The rival candidate's Facebook post was very civil – "fair and honourable contest". We need more of that respectful tone in our political discourse here too. It's refreshing to see.
M
Michael C
A ten-year break from politics and then a comeback is quite a story. Shows resilience. But I do wonder, with such a long and interrupted tenure, is there a consistent vision for the city's future?

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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