"Oh Keo-don, Resignation After General Election? ... Need to Confirm If Blue House Overlooked" United Future Party Raises Suspicion

Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don is holding a press conference at Busan City Hall on the morning of the 23rd to announce his intention to resign from the mayoral position. Mayor Oh said, "I have a guilty statement to make. Recently, during a five-minute meeting with a female public official, there was unnecessary physical contact," and added, "I bow my head and sincerely apologize." [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Shinwon Yoon] Allegations have been raised that Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don deliberately coordinated the timing of his resignation to be after the general election.

On the 23rd, Jeong Oh-gyu, former head of the Seo-dong-gu party committee of the United Future Party, stated, "If the sexual harassment occurred in 'early April,' it would coincide with the period leading up to the 21st general election," adding, "We need to pay attention to whether it was concealed for the election or if the Blue House and the ruling party were aware of the timing."

He continued, "It must be confirmed through hearings or a national audit whether the power circles of the Blue House and the ruling party were involved in or tolerated this incident for the sake of election victory, or if the mayor acted on his own. Regardless of the victim's complaint, the prosecution must investigate, and Mayor Oh must stand trial," he said.

Jeong, the former committee head, argued, "Former leader Hwang Kyo-ahn was defeated in the metropolitan area for making a single inappropriate remark, which was labeled as a verbal abuse. If this issue had come up during the election period, it would have had a significant impact on the election."

Lee Joo-hwan, chief spokesperson of the United Future Party’s Busan City branch, also said, "There are suspicions that 'notarization' was exchanged regarding Mayor Oh’s resignation," adding, "These suspicions must be thoroughly investigated."

Earlier, Mayor Oh held a press conference at 11 a.m. that day and announced his intention to resign from his mayoral position. He apologized, saying, "I have a guilty statement to make. Recently, during a five-minute meeting with a female public official, there was unnecessary physical contact," and bowed his head in apology.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.