[Spouse Series]③The Special Connection Between the Statue of Lee Jun in Jangchungdan Park and Mayor Oh Se-hoon [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, this "fifth-term bid" could also become a weakness for Mayor Oh, as it may give the impression that he is far removed from change or innovation. He could be seen as part of the establishment, or as stagnant water. Depending on which of these two aspects becomes more prominent, the framework of the election will change.

Mayor Oh Sehoon was born in 1961 in Seongsu-dong, Seoul. His maternal family is from Sangju, North Gyeongsang Province, and he has two daughters with his wife Song Hyunok, who is the same age as him and whom he married at 24.

He attended Jungdong Middle School, Daeil High School, and graduated from Korea University's Department of Law. He earned a doctorate in law from Korea University. He completed his military service as a first lieutenant. He is Catholic. In 1984, he passed the 26th National Judicial Examination.

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Mayor Oh first became widely known in 1994 due to a lawsuit over sunlight rights. His victory in this case brought the so-called "environmental rights" issue into the spotlight for the first time. Since then, Mayor Oh has become a symbolic figure in the environmental movement. He gained recognition as the head of the counseling office at the Korean Federation for Environmental Movement and as a member of the environmental committee of Lawyers for a Democratic Society. He also became a television host for live shows such as "Attorney Oh, Attorney Bae" and "Unanswered Questions." He even worked as a model 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 Gangnam-eul in 2000 and became a member of the 16th National Assembly. Alongside Nam Kyungpil, Won Heeryong, and Chung Byungkook, 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 age 45, he defeated Kang Geumshil 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, which backfired and led to his resignation. He spent about ten years out of the political spotlight, engaging in overseas volunteer work. After the impeachment of former President Park Geunhye, he served as a Supreme Council member for the Bareun Party and as the head of the Future United Party's Gwangjin-eul district committee. In 2021, he ran for Seoul mayor again, defeating Park Youngsun by an 18% margin and became Seoul mayor for the third time. In the 2022 local elections, he won in all 425 administrative districts of Seoul, defeating Song Younggil and securing his 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 Mayor Oh's spouse, Professor Song Hyunok? She is the same age as Mayor Oh. She graduated from Korea University's Department of English Language and Literature, earned a doctorate in English literature, and later received a doctorate in performing arts from 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 was the late Song Youngsu, a 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 age 40. He left behind several works, including the commemorative tower for the completion of the Gyeongbu Expressway in Chupungnyeong, the statue of martyr Lee Jun in Jangchungdan Park, and the statue of Wonhyo Daesa in Hyochang Park. Professor Song's mother is Sagong Youngsook, an honorary 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 (Kyung Hee University), Song Hyunok (Sejong University), and Song Sangki (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's older brother, who is one year older, 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. While hospitalized, Mayor Oh visited him with his notes and shared what the teachers had taught. This led Professor Song's brother to suggest, "Let's do private tutoring together," and the three of them-Song's brother, Mayor Oh, and Professor Song-formed a study group. That was when Mayor Oh and Professor Song first met.

At first, their personalities clashed, and they reportedly disliked each other. Professor Song was the type to study while having fun, whereas Mayor Oh was diligent and focused solely on studying. Professor Song even said, "I can't study with him," which led to Mayor Oh leaving the study group. About a year later, Professor Song enrolled in a Korean language academy in Mugyo-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, and unexpectedly ran into Mayor Oh, who was already attending the academy. Surprised, Professor Song thought, "Is this fate?" and the two became close. Professor Song went on to study English literature at Korea University, while Mayor Oh transferred from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies to the law department at Korea University. They became a campus couple and were always seen together. Perhaps that's why Mayor Oh's nickname at the time was "Shepherd."

Professor Song, who is actively involved as the head of the theater troupe "Waves," once shared her thoughts on her husband, Mayor Oh, in a media interview: "I believe that someone like him should be in politics for our country to improve. Just as I respect my husband's work, he respects mine. He is not patriarchal."