[Interview] '3rd Term Challenge' Oh Shin-hwan "Gwanak Is My First Love... Please Write It Bigger"

Early Start of Nangok Line Light Rail and Other Pledges
"Politics Is About One's Own Strength"
Regarding Election Outlook: "Not a Bad Situation"

On the afternoon of the 31st, Oh Shin-hwan, the United Future Party candidate running for Gwanak-eul in the April 15 general election, is meeting and talking with residents in Daehak-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] “Gwanak is like my first love. I attended elementary, middle, and high school all in this area, and this is my sixth election. I hope the residents will support me more so that I can be used more significantly in the region and engage in greater politics.”

On the afternoon of the 31st, Oh Shin-hwan, the United Future Party candidate running for Seoul Gwanak-eul in the April 15 general election, told Asia Economy, “I hope people see me as a politician who communicates with residents and practices politics with a humble attitude.”

Oh’s campaign pledges include ▲ early commencement of the Nanggok Line light rail project ▲ revival of the bar exam and improvements to law schools. Oh said, “Politics is not about riding on the backs of others like the Seoul mayor or president, but ultimately about doing it with your own strength,” adding, “If I become a three-term lawmaker this time, I want to challenge for the chairmanship of the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee.”

Regarding the election outlook, Oh said, “Judging by the evaluation that I have done well, the situation is not bad,” and added, “I have run every day for the past five years with sincerity, and I think the residents know that well.” He also said, “The residents of Gwanak gave me a chance, but I had no choice but to have an urgent feeling that if I don’t work hard, I will inevitably lose.” Gwanak-eul has been a traditional progressive stronghold where Democratic Party-affiliated parties won six times and the Unified Progressive Party won once since 1988. However, in the 2015 by-election and the 2016 general election, Oh, from a conservative party, defeated Jeong Tae-ho of the Democratic Party twice. The vote difference in the 20th general election was only 861 votes (0.7%).

Regarding his own distinguishing points, Oh said, “Candidate Jeong disappears to find a job when he loses an election and appears just before the election. This is how residents see him,” adding, “I have consistently communicated and worked with the residents with a humble attitude.”