Handonghun, Nakyeongwon, Won Heeryong Announce Candidacy for Party Leader... Oh Sehoon Says "We Must Proceed with Dignity"

"The National Convention Should Not Turn into a Factional Struggle"

As the race for the leadership of the People Power Party intensifies, with the possibility of a 'factional fight' emerging, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon raised his voice, saying, "We must have a contest of visions, not factional battles."

On the 21st, Mayor Oh posted on his Facebook, "It is not desirable for the party leader election to turn into a factional struggle. What meaning do pro-Yoon, anti-Yoon, and non-Yoon factions have within the ruling party?" He pointed out, "If this happens, it will only result in self-destructive outcomes like the past pro-Lee and pro-Park conflicts."

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is delivering the opening speech at the '2024 Children Safety Heroes' launch ceremony held at Seoul City Hall in Jung-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 18th. Photo by Yonhap News

He added, "We need a prepared party leader who can engage in a vision contest, not just in words but with plans on how to regain the broken trust of the people, including walking together with the vulnerable."

Mayor Oh also said, "Since we are facing the abnormal and aggressive Democratic Party, we need a commander who knows how to fight, but must win the fight to earn the people's hearts," adding, "We must fight with dignity to win the people's hearts. Winning each battle is important, but winning the war is necessary to recreate the government." He continued, "When they are lowly, we must proceed with dignity," and expressed, "I hope a leader with vision and dignity will emerge."

Meanwhile, former Emergency Committee Chairman Han Dong-hoon, five-term senior lawmaker Na Kyung-won, and former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong will declare their candidacies for the People Power Party leadership at the National Assembly on the 23rd.

Assemblyman Ahn Cheol-soo and former Assemblyman Yoo Seung-min, who were mentioned as potential candidates, officially announced they will not run in the party convention. Ahn stated, "The immediate political struggle, the leadership battle, and the privatization of power are not my political mission," explaining his reason for not running. Yoo said, "I concluded it is a meaningless challenge. When the urgency that 'if we do not change, we will perish' begins, I will fulfill my role."