Confident in Policy Vision, Oh Se-hoon Says "I Will Become a Formidable Candidate Once the Election Begins"

At Seoul National University Lecture: "A Politician Who Works Well Is Different"
On Presidential Election Question: "Winning by Agitation Should Be Taboo"
On Lee Jae-myung Verdict: "The Court Judged Based on Political Influence"

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said, "I may seem frustratingly quiet because I just work quietly, but when the election starts, I will become a formidable candidate." While managing controversies surrounding the recent lifting and re-designation of land transaction permission zones, he expressed confidence in his mid- to long-term policy vision.

On the evening of the 27th, during a lecture at Seoul National University titled "Asking about the Future of Korean Politics," Mayor Oh emphasized, "After a 10-year political hiatus, when I ran again for Seoul mayor, seeing the public's reaction to me made me believe that our people have very sharp judgment. Because I trust our people, I do politics like a 'beomsaeng-i' (a diligent student)."

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That day, Mayor Oh also mentioned Hong Joon-pyo, another potential ruling party candidate and mayor of Daegu, saying, "He comments on every issue in an entertaining way, which becomes political influence, but I usually have little presence, so I may seem frustrating." He added, "I believe our people can distinguish between politicians who beat their opponents thoroughly and politicians who make daily life enjoyable and practical," throwing a check.

In particular, Mayor Oh said, "If a presidential election is held and intra-party competition begins, people will then look for a candidate who can win," adding, "A straightforward politician and a competent politician are different. Please watch closely."

In response to a student's question, "Which candidate should we choose in an election?" he said, "Those who try to win by agitation should be taboo," and urged, "You may support the right or the left, but please do not judge based on superficial observation."

Regarding Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who was acquitted in the appeal trial for violating the Public Official Election Act, he criticized, "I strongly suspect that the court judged political influence and reached a conclusion first, then constructed the logic."

On virtual currency, he responded, "Coin policies should at least match those of the United States." He added, "Coins linked to the dollar have now become a means of payment, and there is no way to avoid it," and "Their utility will inevitably increase, and our government must follow the U.S. government as much as possible."

Regarding the recent sinkhole incident in Myeongil-dong, Gangdong-gu, he assessed, "So far, it is analyzed to be closely related to the (Line 9) construction site." He continued, "We will upgrade the team-level organization to a bureau, reinforce manpower and machinery, and introduce a system to prevent such incidents in advance."

In response to a student's criticism that the national pension reform agreed upon in the National Assembly shifted more burden onto the younger generation, he said, "Pension reform is not a one-time thing; we should accept what has passed and make fine adjustments to reduce the burden on future generations," and questioned, "Is it wise to go back to square one?"

Meanwhile, Mayor Oh plans to visit Andong, Gyeongbuk, which suffered from wildfires, on the 28th to discuss additional support in areas such as firefighting and medical services. He said, "We initially provided 500 million won urgently, but it will be far from enough," and added, "I will go directly to Andong to see the site and identify the necessary assistance."