Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, confirmed as the People Power Party's (PPP) next candidate for the Seoul mayoral race, criticized the party leadership, saying "the party chair is becoming nothing but a burden on candidates."
Speaking on KBS Radio on Tuesday, Oh said, "Ahead of an election, we need to embrace both conservatives and moderates, but Chair Jang's current moves are the opposite." The remarks targeted PPP Chair Jang Dong-hyuk, who the previous day ordered an internal probe into Rep. Jin Jong-oh during a closed-door supreme council meeting.
Rep. Jin has been backing former PPP leader Han Dong-hoon — who was expelled from the party over the "party member bulletin board scandal" — in his bid to run in a by-election. Jin has repeatedly argued that the PPP should not field a candidate in Busan's Buk-gu A district, where Han has decided to run.
"The logic seems to be that supporting someone outside the party (former leader Han) constitutes an act against the party, but from the perspective of candidates facing an election, an inclusive line is desperately needed," Oh said.
Oh also attacked the policies and stance of his rival, Democratic Party Seoul mayoral candidate Jung Won-oh, citing President Lee Jae-myung's recent remarks on abolishing the long-term holding special deduction. "Abolishing the long-term holding deduction means being robbed while sitting still when you move," Oh said. "More than half of Seoul citizens would see their assets wiped out when they relocate, yet it is not proper for a mayoral candidate to take no position," he said, targeting Jung directly.
"Even when the president says things that harm Seoul citizens' interests, (Jung) probably won't be able to oppose it. That's the limit of being 'Lee's pick,'" Oh said. "Union members are crying out because they can't relocate due to loan bans. If Jung is so close to the president, why can't he say a single word?"
Oh framed the upcoming Seoul mayoral election as a crucial opportunity to check the central government and rebuild conservative forces. "The Democratic Party has seized the legislature and executive and is toying with the judiciary like pebbles. If they take local governments too, they will be omnipotent. Absolute power corrupts absolutely," he said. "As a minimum foothold to check the ruling party's unilateral rule, you must keep alive at least the seeds of Seoul and Busan."
