Oh Se-hoon has secured the nomination as the People Power Party candidate for the June 3 Seoul mayoral election. The incumbent mayor, seeking a fifth term, prevailed in primaries against Park Soo-min, a National Assembly member, and Yoon Hee-sook, a former lawmaker.
Primary Results and Key Matchup
The primaries combined 50% party member votes from April 16-17 with 50% public opinion polls. Oh Se-hoon emerged victorious, setting up a fierce contest against Democratic Party candidate Jeong Won-oh, the three-term Seongdong-gu district mayor. Polls show a tight race in this pivotal battleground.
Recent surveys indicate Oh maintains a lead in multi-candidate scenarios but faces stiff competition in head-to-head matchups with Jeong.
Oh’s Post-Nomination Remarks
Following confirmation, Oh Se-hoon declared, “Handing over Seoul would eliminate the final check on this administration’s excesses, placing South Korea’s democracy in mortal danger.”
In interviews, he warned supporters, “If we lose this election, Seoul risks becoming ‘Park Won-soon Season 2.'” Park Soo-min and Yoon Hee-sook congratulated Oh and met with party leadership.
On April 19, Oh met aides at his Jongno-gu office, emphasizing, “Candidates must appeal to the center. Voters emerge from the center, so broadening the support base is crucial.” He described his voter pool as a “narrow operation.”
Election Background
Oh first won the Seoul mayoralty in 2006. This marks his fifth-term bid and lowest approval rating challenge to date. He previously fell short in the 2021 Bokgwon by-election and the 2022 local elections.
