Uiryeong County Chief Oh Tae-wan has left the People Power Party (PPP) and officially announced his bid for a third term as an independent candidate. Oh pledged to push for the Uiryeong connection of the North-South Axis 6 Expressway, vowing to end the 50-year reliance on the Haman Gunbuk IC and open a new era of expressway access centered on Uiryeong-eup.
Oh made his official candidacy declaration in front of the KT Plaza Uiryeong branch in Uiryeong County, South Gyeongsang Province, on the morning of the 13th. "I will be a county chief who proves through results, not just makes promises," he said. "Not turning away from the pain of our residents, caring for them to the end, and creating changes that improve their lives — that is why I am in politics."
He used Uiryeong County's administrative code "48720" within South Gyeongsang's county-level system to outline his pledges: "4" for a living zone connected in all four directions, "8" for eight promises to residents, "7" for an era of a 700 billion won budget, and "20" for the Uiryeong expressway era to be completed in 20 years.
He also unveiled an "O(5) Care" policy plan covering residents from childhood through old age. The details include expanding the sturdy allowance for multi-child families, establishing a 24-hour care system, advancing a rural basic income and livelihood stability support, implementing a fully public bus system and expanding the Uiryeong Bbangbbang Bus, and creating an Uiryeong-style integrated care program and a happiness funeral park.
Oh had earlier applied to the PPP's South Gyeongsang provincial chapter for the party's nomination for the Uiryeong county chief race in the June 3 local elections, but abruptly shifted course to run as an independent. With the party's nomination remaining unconfirmed until just before the main candidate registration, Oh recently left the party, saying, "Rather than leaving a burden on the party, I decided to receive the choice and evaluation of residents directly."
The PPP's South Gyeongsang provincial chapter failed to reach a decision on demands to exclude Oh from the nomination — based on party rules that restrict primary eligibility for those indicted on charges of forcible molestation — and handed the nomination authority to the central party.
Oh was indicted in June 2021 on charges of forcible molestation during a meeting with local reporters at a restaurant in Uiryeong County. He was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years, in the first trial and appealed. In the second trial, the sentence was reduced to a 10 million won fine, allowing him to retain his post as county chief.
When the PPP nomination that had already been confirmed for his 2022 reelection bid was canceled over the same case, Oh ran as an independent and won, demonstrating his political resilience. After rejoining the PPP, Oh has again been tripped up by the same case and is now running as an independent.
