Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor, appealed for support Monday, one day before the June 3 local elections, urging voters to "head to the polling stations tomorrow and leave one 'last safety pin' so that the Republic of Korea does not tilt completely to one side."
Speaking at a press briefing in front of Hyochang Park Station in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Oh targeted Democratic Party candidate Jung Won-oh, saying, "We cannot entrust Seoul's fate to a candidate who cannot even explain his own policies and watches the power-holders before the citizens."
Oh strongly criticized Jung for what he called "evasion of vetting" after Jung expressed regret over the limited number of debates. "Candidate Jung kicked away meaningful debate opportunities himself and completely failed to explain his vision for Seoul and the future of the city he wants to create," Oh said. "Candidate Jung, who is unprepared, should withdraw even now."
He added, "Seoul is a megacity that is difficult to manage even for a driver with sufficient experience. We cannot turn Seoul into a practice course for a novice driver. If you have stepped forward to manage it, you should never have evaded vetting."
Oh said he would not relax his guard until the very end regarding the election landscape. "We have not conducted our own internal polling at the camp, but synthesizing surveys from various channels, we are receiving the conclusion that it is an extremely tight race," he said. "I will run with all my strength until the last moment with the mindset that we are 3 to 5 percentage points behind."
Regarding public sentiment he encountered during the campaign, Oh pledged to correct the government's failed housing policies. "During the campaign, I toured university districts and heard the cries of young people saying it is too difficult to find a monthly rental room and that life is tough due to rising prices and interest rates," Oh said. "I feel a heavy sense of responsibility as a politician, and I will correct the misguided housing policies of the Lee Jae-myung administration."
On the final day of the official campaign period, Oh is carrying out a stumping schedule visiting all 25 autonomous districts in Seoul. "I am wearing this T-shirt with the determination to make Seoul a 'Global Top 3' city recognized by the world in terms of quality of life and attractiveness," he said. "This is not a choice for any particular party. Please leave Seoul, the last bastion, for the sake of the country."
