'Market Tour' Underway by Oh, Aiming to Secure Elderly Voter Support

Focused Criticism of Former Mayor and Government in Front of Citizens Aged 60 and Over

Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor, visiting Gyeongdong Market in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor, focused on visiting markets on the first day of his campaign to solidify grassroots support.

On the afternoon of the 25th, about 30 to 40 citizens aged 60 and above gathered in front of Gyeongdong Market in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, where candidate Oh visited. They cheered loudly, shouting phrases like “Congratulations” and “Go Oh Se-hoon!”

Earlier, Oh Se-hoon’s campaign announced plans to visit a total of five markets that day, including Jeil Market in Dongdaemun-gu and Inwang Market in Seodaemun-gu. Markets are known as areas with a high population of elderly voters, considered a conservative stronghold, and Oh’s visits appear aimed at targeting their votes.

That day, Oh stopped by a ginseng wholesaler, a vegetable shop, and a fish store inside Gyeongdong Market, greeting merchants with fist bumps and responding to citizens’ requests for photos. He asked the merchants about their daily lives and business conditions, encouraging them.

After touring the market, he got on the campaign vehicle with Lee Hye-hoon, former lawmaker and chairperson of the People Power Party’s Dongdaemun district committee, and appealed to citizens for support. Oh said, “This area near Gyeongdong Market has shown no signs of change for nearly ten years, a truly stagnant space where the clock of development has stopped,” adding, “I, Oh Se-hoon, will change it.”

He then pointed to the nearby Cheongnyangni area, saying, “There have been major changes around here,” and emphasized, “While becoming a transportation hub is important, it should become a metropolitan transportation hub as well. I will definitely change Cheongnyangni.”

He criticized the late Mayor Park Won-soon’s administration, saying, “For the past ten years, they stubbornly refused reconstruction and redevelopment, causing housing prices and rent to rise, leaving people with no money to spend,” adding, “Even today, market merchants say they ‘can’t make a living.’” Oh pledged, “If I become mayor, I will definitely control housing prices.”

Finally, he appealed to the citizens gathered on site, saying, “Please go to the polling stations with your parents and children and judge this government.”