[Summary] Oh Se-hoon "Can't Wait for Interim Mayor" vs. Na Kyung-won "Someone Who Took 10 Years Off"... Opposition Candidates' 'Tension'

Ahn Cheol-soo "Opposition Weaker Compared to Ruling Party"
"Opposition Candidates Should Recognize Each Other as Colleagues"

Former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is declaring his candidacy for the Seoul mayoral by-election on the morning of the 17th at Buk Seoul Dream Forest in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] The rivalry among opposition candidates who declared their candidacy for the April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election is intensifying. Former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and former People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won exchanged heated words over the so-called 'intern mayor remarks,' while Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, criticized them, emphasizing that "opposition candidates should have a sense of camaraderie."

Former Mayor Oh appeared on KBS Radio's "Kim Kyung-rae's Strongest Current Affairs" on the 18th. When the host asked him to explain why he was better than former lawmaker Na, Oh replied, "It takes about a year just to understand the administrative work," adding, "Although I used provocative expressions like 'intern mayor' and 'novice mayor,' they are not far from the truth." This is interpreted as him expressing confidence by referring to other candidates as 'interns' compared to his actual experience as Seoul mayor.

In fact, at a press conference held on the 17th at Buk Seoul Dream Forest in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, former Mayor Oh emphasized, "Seoul, which is in a critical condition, cannot afford to wait for the trial and error of an amateur novice mayor or a one-year intern mayor."

Former People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won is answering questions after completing the registration as a candidate for the Seoul mayoral by-election primary at the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 18th. / Photo by Yonhap News

However, former lawmaker Na immediately responded to former Mayor Oh's remarks.

On the 18th, Na wrote on her Facebook, "The Seoul mayor is not a position to work alone," pointing out, "It is a position to work with excellent Seoul city officials, the 25 district mayors, and their staff."

She emphasized, "I trust the professionalism and sincerity of all Seoul city officials."

Na added, "The mayor listens to public sentiment, sets the right direction, oversees overall work, and leads the organization productively through rational personnel management and evaluation," stressing, "Seoul operates through a system."

Furthermore, Na stated, "As a four-term lawmaker, opposition member, floor leader, and someone who stepped up as a mayoral candidate when the party was in difficulty, I am confident that I can perform this role better than someone who has been inactive for 10 years." This is interpreted as a critique of former Mayor Oh's long hiatus.

Ahn Cheol-soo, Leader of the People Party / Photo by Yonhap News

While former Mayor Oh and former lawmaker Na engaged in a dispute over the 'intern mayor' remarks, leader Ahn also pointed out the importance of "opposition candidates having a sense of camaraderie."

On the afternoon of the same day, after a meeting with the Korean Medical Association in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Ahn was asked by reporters about his stance on former Mayor Oh's remarks. He replied, "This election is not an easy one for the opposition," emphasizing, "Opposition candidates should engage in fair competition and maintain a sense of fellowship."

He continued, "Since it is a by-election, voter turnout is low, and the opposition organizations in Seoul are much weaker compared to the ruling party," pointing out, "Compared to the various means the government and ruling party can use, the opposition has very limited resources to respond."

He added, "The process must be fair and show good-natured competition so that opposition supporters can support the unified candidate until the end," stressing, "Keeping that in mind is the most important."