Oh Se-hoon: "Lost Election in Gwangjin-eul Due to Many Joseonjok" vs Woo Sang-ho: "How Did I Become an 'Ilbe' Politician?"

Woo Sang-ho, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea./Photo by Dong-joo Yoon doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] Woo Sang-ho, a member of the Democratic Party running in the April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election, strongly criticized Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party primary candidate, saying, "It is deplorable how the protagonist of the 'Oh Se-hoon Law,' created for clean politics, has somehow been distorted into an 'Ilbe' politician."

On the 27th, Woo wrote on his Facebook, "Oh claimed that the reason for the general election defeat was 'because there were many people from certain regions, people in their 30s and 40s, and people of Joseonjok origin,'" pointing this out.

Earlier, Oh appeared on the conservative YouTube channel 'Goseongguk TV' and spoke about the Seoul Gwangjin district, where he lost to Democratic Party candidate Ko Min-jung in the last general election, saying, "Everyone knows there are many people from certain regions, and above all, many are in their 30s and 40s," adding, "These people are Democratic Party supporters."

He continued, "There are tens of thousands of naturalized Joseonjok living in the Yangkkochi street area," and claimed, "More than 90% of them lean towards the Democratic Party."

Former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, affiliated with the People Power Party, is responding after completing an interview for the April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election nomination at the People Power Party Central Party Office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 24th. Photo by Yonhap News

In response, Woo said, "I saw the raw face of regional hatred, generational hatred, and compatriot hatred held by the candidate of the main opposition party," and sharply criticized, "Distorted elitism that blames others when things go wrong and takes credit when things go well has become even more unsightly when combined with hatred."

He added, "Seoul has a more diverse population composition than anywhere else in South Korea. Diversity is the driving force and fertilizer for Seoul's growth and development," pointing out, "Being filled with hateful consciousness denies Seoul's identity."

Finally, Woo said, "It is shameful that this person was once the mayor of Seoul and is now running again as a candidate for Seoul mayor," and added, "Oh should stop politics of agitation and division even now."