Busy Oh Se-hoon's 'Facebook Politics'

One Message Per Day from Mayor Oh After President Yoon's Impeachment
Increased Criticism of the Democratic Party and Lee Jaemyung in the New Year
Moves to Strengthen His Leadership Position in Economy and Diplomacy

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's social media has become noticeably busier these days. Since the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol was passed in the National Assembly on the 14th of last month, Mayor Oh has posted a total of about 40 messages on Facebook up until the previous day (the 23rd). This averages to about one message per day, with more than half of them related to political matters.

Mayor Oh has consistently communicated with the public through Facebook on various issues, including overall city administration. However, since the impeachment political situation began, the frequency of political messages has increased.

Immediately after the impeachment of President Yoon was passed on the 14th of last month, he apologized to the public, expressed concern about party division, and emphasized the urgent need for social and economic stability. Messages targeting the Democratic Party of Korea and its leader Lee Jae-myung also became more prominent. On the 17th, when the Democratic Party pushed for an amendment to the Commercial Act expanding directors' fiduciary duties, he said to Leader Lee, "You are indulging in kingmaker play," and called "Lee Jae-myung's existence the greatest risk to Korea's economy and politics."

On the day of the appeal trial of former Gyeonggi Province Deputy Governor Lee Hwa-young, he brought up the controversy over remittances to North Korea and, along with ruling party politicians, criticized, "Leader Lee Jae-myung is cowardly stalling by avoiding judges."

As conflicts between the ruling and opposition parties intensified over the appointment of constitutional court justices, he said, "South Korea is currently in a psychological division over impeachment," and added, "We must acknowledge the limitations of the so-called 1987 constitutional system that allows winner-takes-all parliamentary tyranny and an imperial presidency, and turn this crisis into an opportunity for the entire political sphere to begin discussions on constitutional amendment." When the impeachment motion against Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, led by the Democratic Party, was passed, he referred to the Democratic Party as an 'impeachment factory' and said, "The reality of Lee Jae-myung is destroying substantive democracy under the guise of democratic procedures."

Since the new year, he seems to be focusing more on messages directed at the Democratic Party. Mayor Oh urged the Democratic Party to "stop the special prosecution for the presidential election," and "stop shaking the acting authority system under Choi Sang-mok," and recently, referring to changed public opinion polls between the ruling and opposition parties, he said, "The reason public sentiment has turned away lies with the Democratic Party itself."

Shortly after the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump, messages related to economic and diplomatic cooperation, such as in the memory semiconductor and electric vehicle industries with the U.S., also appeared. Mayor Oh said, "Compared to President Trump's style, who is skilled in business negotiations, it is more important than anything to thoroughly prepare our cards," and added, "Now is the time to focus on the economy again."