All People Power Party Lawmakers Attend Oh Se-hoon Debate...Some Voices of Caution Raised (Comprehensive)

Oh Se-hoon Raises Constitutional Amendment Issue at Debate
One-third of People Power Party Lawmakers Gather
Taking the Lead on Policy Issues and Rallying Support

A large number of ruling party lawmakers gathered at the constitutional amendment debate hosted by Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, drawing attention. Mayor Oh, considered a strong potential candidate within the ruling party, is interpreted as both taking the lead on policy issues and rallying support.

On the 12th, Mayor Oh held the 'Constitutional Amendment Debate for Overcoming the 1987 System and Promoting Local Autonomy' at the National Assembly Library, emphasizing, "South Korea is facing a national crisis, and to turn this crisis into a better opportunity, constitutional amendment must be achieved."

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Kwon Young-se, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, are taking a commemorative photo at the "Local Decentralization Constitutional Amendment Forum to Overcome the 1987 System" held at the National Assembly Library on the 12th. 2025.2.12 Photo by Kim Hyun-min

About 30 lawmakers from the People Power Party gathered at the debate, nearly one-third of the entire party members. The party leadership, including Emergency Committee Chairman Kwon Young-se, Floor Leader Kwon Seong-dong, Policy Committee Chair Kim Sang-hoon, and Secretary-General Lee Yang-su, all showed up. Senior or key ruling party lawmakers such as Joo Ho-young, who chairs the party's special committee on constitutional amendment, and Ahn Cheol-soo, who raised the constitutional amendment issue, attended to the point that there was barely enough space. Lawmakers Kim Sang-wook and Kim Ye-ji, classified as non-mainstream within the party, as well as out-of-office party branch chiefs, were also noticeable.

It is evaluated that Mayor Oh, who has effectively started warming up for the presidential election, gathered many ruling party figures to demonstrate his political presence. It is reported that prior to the debate, Mayor Oh personally sent invitations to all ruling party lawmakers. Although it is difficult for the party as a whole to openly discuss an early presidential election, there is an atmosphere of paying close attention to Mayor Oh's moves. However, when asked by reporters whether this was effectively a presidential bid, Mayor Oh drew a line by saying, "I cannot agree," but related questions continued.

There are also unfavorable views within some parts of the party. Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo posted on Facebook that "It has long been that loyalty has disappeared from Yeouido politics, and interest-driven interest groups run rampant," adding, "The current Yeouido politics is an era of opportunists (jeongsangbae) who prioritize interest over comrades, with no true allies, which is why the country is in turmoil," indirectly criticizing the situation.

Former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong, an out-of-office figure, held a press conference at the National Assembly around the same time as the debate. He resumed public activities over concerns about the fairness of the Constitutional Court, which is currently reviewing the impeachment trial of President Yoon Seok-youl. Since losing in the July 23 party leadership election last year, he had rarely appeared in public. When asked if this could be seen as a move toward an early presidential election, he drew a line by saying, "Tomorrow might be the last day of the Constitutional Court hearing, so I came out today due to urgency," but his message was interpreted as targeting the hardline conservative base.

Mayor Oh mentioned 'local autonomy' as the core of his constitutional amendment proposal that day. He explained that constitutional amendment discussions are necessary as a national development strategy to overcome local extinction. This differentiates him from other presidential candidates who focus on constitutional amendments aimed at resolving political structural issues. Mayor Oh said, "I hope this will be a place to look far into the country's future and consider what discussions can enable South Korea's quantum leap."

Specifically, he proposed transferring the 'three major powers'?budget, personnel, and regulations?to local governments. Mayor Oh emphasized, "We must transfer substantial authority to local governments so that each region can establish and implement independent development strategies," adding, "More bold measures are needed, such as adjusting the ratio of national and local taxes and reallocating resources and administrative personnel in a balanced way."