Oh Se-hoon vs Ahn Cheol-soo... The Time for the Opposition Has Come

Seoul Mayor Candidate Oh Se-hoon Stakes Position on Free School Meals, Returns After 10 Years
Oh Se-hoon: "Lived with Guilt, Will Create Foothold for Regime Judgment"
Opposition Candidate Unification Gains Momentum
Ahn Cheol-soo: "Will Discuss Soon"
Park Hyung-joon Named Busan Mayor Candidate

[Asia Economy Reporters Naju-seok and Lee Hyun-joo] The People Power Party has selected former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon as its final candidate for the April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election. Professor Park Hyung-joon of Dong-A University was confirmed as the candidate for Busan mayor.

Oh Se-hoon, who was selected as the People Power Party's candidate for Seoul mayor, and Park Hyung-joon, who was selected as the candidate for Busan mayor, are holding hands and posing at the announcement event for the Seoul and Busan mayoral candidate primary results held at the People Power Party Central Party Office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 4th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

On the 4th, the People Power Party's nomination management committee announced that in the Seoul mayoral primary held over two days on the 2nd and 3rd through public opinion polls, former Mayor Oh received the highest vote share at 41.64%. Former lawmaker Na Kyung-won, who was in a close race with Oh, garnered 36.31%. Following were Seocho District Mayor Cho Eun-hee with 16.47% and former lawmaker Oh Shin-hwan with 10.39%. Although Oh was reportedly behind Na in the preliminary round, he emphasized his experience and crisis management skills as a former Seoul mayor and achieved a major comeback in the final round. In the Busan mayoral primary, Professor Park secured a majority with 54.40%. Former Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs Park Sung-hoon received 28.63%, and former lawmaker Lee Eon-ju got 21.54%. The final vote totals included a 10% bonus for women and newcomers.

In his acceptance speech, former Mayor Oh said, "As a mayor who could not complete his term, I have felt guilt for the past 10 years," and added, "I firmly reaffirm my determination to create a foothold to judge the current administration." Professor Park stated, "I believe this election should serve as a brake on four years of reckless governance," and promised, "Through the Busan election, we will show that we are a party presenting rational alternatives."

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 4th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

With the People Power Party’s Seoul mayoral candidate decided, discussions on unifying opposition candidates are set to begin in earnest. Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party and the counterpart in unification talks, told reporters on the same day, "I hope to soon meet with former Mayor Oh to discuss constructive cooperation plans." The final unified candidate between Oh and Ahn will face off against the Democratic Party’s Park Young-sun. Park is also in talks for unification with Kim Jin-ae of the Open Democratic Party and Cho Jung-hoon of the Transition Korea Party, but it is highly likely that the unification will consolidate around Park.

Based on the public opinion polls released so far, the race between ‘Park Young-sun vs. Ahn Cheol-soo’ is expected to be a close contest with an unpredictable outcome. On the other hand, if former Mayor Oh is selected as the unified opposition candidate, many polls showed him trailing slightly behind Park. However, with the conclusion of the People Power Party primary, it is expected that the party’s support base will rally around Oh, making it premature to predict the final outcome. Meanwhile, with both former lawmakers Na Kyung-won and Lee Eon-ju defeated, the Seoul and Busan mayoral by-elections, held amid the aftermath of sexual misconduct scandals, are unlikely to see a female-driven opposition surge.