The Special Connection Between the Statue of Martyr Lee Jun in Jangchungdan Park and Mayor Oh Sehoon [Spouse Profiles] ③ [Current Affairs Show]

Oh Se-hoon and Song Hyunok, Same-Age Korea University Couple
Daughter of the Renowned Sculptor Who Created the Statue of Martyr Lee Jun
"My Husband Respects My Work. He Is Not Patriarchal"

Editor's NoteThe year of the June 3 local elections has begun. Candidates from both ruling and opposition parties are announcing their bids. There is growing interest not only in who the candidates are and what policies they advocate, but also in who their spouses are. 'So Jongseop's Current Affairs Show' is launching a new series, 'Spouse Profiles,' exploring the spouses of candidates (including those expected to run). ①Moon Hyejeong (spouse of Jung Wonoh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu) ②Jang Mikyung (spouse of Assemblyman Park Hongkeun) ③Song Hyunok (spouse of Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon)

Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon is running for a fifth term in this year's June 3 local elections. This is unprecedented. That is why people say, "Oh Sehoon is a master of Seoul's administration." He knows Seoul inside and out, to the extent that he can handle any situation at any time. However, his bid for a fifth term could also be seen as a weakness. It may give the impression that he is far removed from change or innovation. He could be viewed as part of the establishment or as stagnant. Depending on which of these aspects stands out more, the framing of the election will change.

Oh Sehoon was born in 1961 in Seongsu-dong, Seoul. His maternal family is from Sangju, North Gyeongsang Province. He married his wife, Song Hyunok, who is the same age as him, when they were both 24, and they have two daughters.

He attended Jungdong Middle School and Daeil High School, and graduated from Korea University with a degree in law. He earned his doctorate in law from Korea University. He completed his military service as a first lieutenant. His religion is Catholicism. In 1984, he passed the 26th bar exam.

※Click the video to watch the full content.

Oh Sehoon first became widely known in 1994 due to a lawsuit over sunlight rights. His victory in this case brought the issue of environmental rights to the forefront in Korea for the first time. Afterward, he became a symbolic figure in the environmental movement. He gained recognition as a counselor at the Korean Federation for Environmental Movement and as a member of the environmental committee of the Lawyers for a Democratic Society. He also became a TV host, appearing on live programs such as 'Attorney Oh, Attorney Bae' and 'Unanswered Questions.' He even modeled for men's clothing brand Rogatis and a water purifier company. After receiving offers from the political world, he was nominated by the Grand National Party for the Gangnam Eul district in 2000 and became a member of the 16th National Assembly. Together with Nam Kyungpil, Won Heeryong, and Chung Byungguk, he was active as a young reformist. He became an icon of political reform by introducing the 'Oh Sehoon Three Laws,' including the Political Funds Act, which set the individual donation limit at 5 million won.

In 2006, at the age of 45, he defeated Kang Kumshil of the Uri Party and Park Joosun of the Democratic Party to become Seoul Mayor. However, during his tenure in 2011, he staked his position on a referendum regarding free school meals, a move that backfired and led to his resignation. He spent about ten years out of politics, engaging in overseas volunteer work. After former President Park Geunhye was impeached, he served as a Supreme Council member of the Bareun Party and as the head of the Gwangjin Eul district for the United Future Party. In 2021, he ran for Seoul mayor again, defeating Park Youngsun by an 18% margin, and became mayor for the third time. In the 2022 local elections, he won in all 425 administrative districts of Seoul, defeating Song Younggil and securing a fourth term as mayor.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon visited the redevelopment site of Sillim 7 District in Gwanak-gu, Seoul on the 19th to inspect the area. Photo by Yoon Dongju

Who is Professor Song Hyunok, the spouse of Mayor Oh Sehoon? She is the same age as the mayor. She graduated from Korea University with a degree in English literature, earned her doctorate in English literature, and then obtained a doctorate in performing arts from the graduate school of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Poland. Since 2005, she has been a professor in the Department of Film Arts at Sejong University.

Professor Song's father is the late Song Youngsu, former professor at Seoul National University's College of Fine Arts. He is known as the first sculptor in Korea to use iron as a medium. At the age of 27, he became the youngest artist to be recommended for the National Art Exhibition, and was considered a highly promising sculptor. About two years after becoming a professor at Seoul National University, he died of a heart attack at the age of 40. He left behind several works. The Gyeongbu Expressway Completion Memorial Tower in Chupungnyeong, the statue of Martyr Lee Jun in Jangchungdan Park, and the statue of Wonhyo Daesa in Hyochang Park are among his works. Professor Song's mother is Sagong Youngsook, an emeritus professor at Korea University. She is known as the first female professor in the College of Science at Korea University. Song Youngsu and Sagong Youngsook had two sons and two daughters, all of whom graduated from Korea University. Among them, Song Sangho (Kyunghee University), Song Hyunok (Sejong University), and Song Sanggi (Korea University) are professors.

Statue of Wonhyo Daesa in Hyochang Park. Along with the statue of Lee Jun, a martyr in Jangchungdan Park, it is a work by the late sculptor Song Youngsu, father of Professor Song Hyunok, spouse of Mayor Oh Sehoon.

How did Professor Song Hyunok and Mayor Oh Sehoon meet? Professor Song had an older brother who was one year her senior. He had to take a year off from school due to a herniated disc, so he ended up attending school at the same time as Mayor Oh. When her brother was hospitalized, Mayor Oh visited him with his notes and explained what the teachers had taught. This led her brother to suggest, "Let's study together," so the three of them-her brother, Mayor Oh, and Professor Song-formed a study group. That was when Mayor Oh and Professor Song first met.

At first, they reportedly did not get along because of their different personalities. Professor Song was the type who enjoyed herself and studied casually, while Mayor Oh was very diligent and focused only on studying. Professor Song once said, "I can't study with him," and Mayor Oh left the study group. However, about a year later, Professor Song enrolled in a Korean language academy in Mugyo-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, and was surprised to find that Mayor Oh was already attending. Surprised, she thought, "Is this fate?" and the two became close. Professor Song went on to major in English literature at Korea University, while Mayor Oh transferred from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies to Korea University's law department, and the two became a campus couple who were always together. Perhaps because of this, Mayor Oh's nickname at the time was "Shepherd."

Professor Song, who is actively involved as the head of the theater company 'Moolgyeol,' has spoken about how she views her husband, Mayor Oh. In a media interview, she said, "I believe that someone like him (Mayor Oh) needs to be in politics for our country to improve. Just as I respect my husband's work, he also respects mine. He is not patriarchal."