Oh Sehoon: "Party Leadership Must Apologize for Martial Law and Pursue Grand Conservative Unity"

"We Must Listen to the Voices of Common Sense and Reason"

Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon called on the leadership of the People Power Party on New Year's Day to issue a sincere apology regarding the 12·3 Martial Law and to pursue a "grand conservative unity" to secure victory in the June 3 local elections.

On the 1st, Mayor Oh posted a message on Facebook titled "We Must Change to Preserve," stating, "I will deeply reflect throughout this year on the stern admonition from the public that the country can only stand upright if politics is upright," and added, "I promise to take the lead in making efforts, with greater humility, to open a new path for proper politics."

He continued, "To keep this promise, I have no choice but to offer earnest advice to the People Power Party on the very first day of the new year, with a sense of desperation," and warned, "The People Power Party is truly standing at the edge of a cliff. We are at a critical crossroads where we must decide whether to collapse or be reborn."

Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon is ringing the New Year's Eve bell together with citizen representatives at Bosingak in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 1st. Photo by Yonhap News.

He also stated, "The party leadership must officially acknowledge the wrongdoings of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, including the martial law, and apologize and reflect in language that the public can accept for the party's failure to fulfill its proper role."

Mayor Oh emphasized, "The party must open its doors wide so that everyone concerned about the Republic of Korea can join," and added, "Through a grand conservative unity, we must rein in the runaway administration of Lee Jaemyung and the Democratic Party, and restore balance to the Republic of Korea."

He particularly added, "The party leadership must quickly create a forum for dialogue and unity so that the broader conservative forces can come together and lay the groundwork for victory in the local elections." This is interpreted as a call for an electoral alliance with figures such as former People Power Party leader Han Donghoon and Reform New Party leader Lee Junseok.

He further urged, "Please focus the party's energy and capabilities entirely on solving the issues that affect people's livelihoods," and said, "This year, we must devote ourselves to regaining the honor of being a competent economic party."

In addition, he said, "I urge the party leadership to make courageous decisions. We must not be afraid, nor be swayed by a loud minority," and added, "We must listen to the voices of the overwhelming majority who value common sense and reason, and be reborn as a powerful opposition party firmly supported by the public's trust."