Oh Se-hoon: "Choi Sang-mok is the main figure managing Korea-US relations... The Democratic Party must stop shaking it"

"Support Needed for Effective Communication with the Trump Administration"

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon asserted, "Even now, the opposition party should stop 'shaking Choi Sang-mok' and help the acting authority system under Choi Sang-mok to closely communicate with the newly launched Trump administration."

On the 18th, Mayor Oh wrote on Facebook, "Especially at a time when North Korea repeatedly launches ballistic missiles (SRBM) into the East Sea taking advantage of confusion, we must thoroughly maintain security posture and closely manage the South Korea-US relationship."

Yonhap News

Mayor Oh stated, "The subject responsible for managing the South Korea-US relationship should rightfully be Acting President Choi Sang-mok," adding, "Choi should, immediately after President Trump's inauguration, make a congratulatory call and re-emphasize the strategic value of the South Korea-US alliance."

He then emphasized the need to support Acting President Choi by referring to past cases. Mayor Oh wrote, "During the impeachment phase in 2017, Economic Deputy Prime Minister Yoo Il-ho visited the US in January, and Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Joo Hyung-hwan visited in March," and added, "The South Korea-US alliance became stronger not because there were no crises, but because the crises were overcome well."

Meanwhile, Mayor Oh criticized the behavior of the opposition party. He pointed out, "Even though the acting president is clearly the head of state, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, called Acting President Choi 'the main cause of instability,' and opposition party lawmakers are forcing the appointment of the remaining constitutional court justice, threatening '100% impeachment if resisted.'"