Oh Se-hoon Discusses Trump’s Second-Term Security Policy... Contemplating Seoul’s Role as Capital

First Launched by Local Government in 2023
Large Attendance by Security Experts... Analysis of Korea-US Relations
In-Depth Review of US Position on Nuclear Possession and Related Issues

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will hold a 'Security Forum' to discuss changes in the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and response strategies following the inauguration of President Trump's second term. Military officials, members of the Seoul Integrated Defense Council, and security policy advisory groups are expected to attend in large numbers. Considering Mayor Oh's recent political moves, more concrete diplomatic and security policies are likely to be revealed.

According to the city on the 26th, the 4th 'Seoul Security Forum' will be held in the multipurpose hall of Seoul City Hall in the afternoon under the theme "Trump's Second Term, Asking the Path of Security on the Korean Peninsula."

This forum was organized to directly address the impact of the inauguration of the Trump administration's second term on the security of the Korean Peninsula, changes in North Korea policy, and to discuss the future development direction of the Korea-US alliance. In particular, it will share the Trump administration's stance on North Korea's nuclear possession and consider policy directions for nuclear security on the Korean Peninsula as well as the role of Seoul, the capital of the Republic of Korea.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is applauding at the 'Constitutional Amendment Debate for Overcoming the 87 System and Promoting Local Autonomy' held at the National Assembly Library on the 12th. 2025.2.12 Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon emphasized at the New Year's foreign press briefing held in February that "South Korea also needs to expand its nuclear potential," stressing the necessity to secure at least the same level of 'nuclear potential' as Japan.

This forum will proceed with two sessions: "The Impact of Trump's Second-Term Foreign Policy on Korean Peninsula Security" and "Trump's Second-Term North Korea Policy: Denuclearization? or Nuclear Arms Reduction?" Kim Yeol-su, Director of the Security Strategy Office at the Korea Institute for Military Affairs, will chair the sessions. Kwon Bo-ram, Research Fellow at the Korea Defense Research Institute, and Cha Du-hyun, Deputy Director of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, will serve as presenters for each session.

After each session's presentations, in-depth discussions will be held with panelists including Park Won-gon, Professor of North Korean Studies at Ewha Womans University; Min Jeong-hoon, Professor of American Studies at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy; Jeong Seong-jang, Director of the Korea Peninsula Strategy Center at the Sejong Institute; and Ham Hyung-pil, Director of the Security Strategy Research Center at the Korea Defense Research Institute.

Previously, in November 2023, the first forum shared implications of the current security situation through the Israel-Hamas war and reviewed the defense posture of the capital, Seoul. In December, the topic was "North Korea's Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Threat and Measures to Maintain Seoul's Urban Functions." At that time, over 150 participants including Lee Jin-woo, Commander of the Capital Defense Command, members of the Seoul Integrated Defense Council, and security policy advisory groups attended to discuss the impact of an EMP attack on Seoul and response measures.

Last year, when the threat of North Korean drones raised the need to reorganize the defense system of the metropolitan area, another security forum was held. At that time, Mayor Oh said, "North Korean drone attacks have terrifying power, and from Seoul's perspective, only a few dozen kilometers from the armistice line, we must prepare thoroughly. We will continue to coordinate closely among civilians, government, and military to establish a solid defense posture so that the 10 million citizens of Seoul can feel safe."

In political circles, this security forum is expected to be interpreted as part of Mayor Oh's presidential ambitions. Recently, after successfully concluding a constitutional amendment debate attended by about 50 members of the People Power Party, including party leadership, he is expanding his scope of action into the difficult fields of diplomacy and security as a local government head.