O Se-hoon and Yoo Seung-min Accelerate Presidential Bid Movements... Opposition Party's Rising Stars Warming Up

Oh Se-hoon, Speech at Mapo Forum... Likely to Declare Presidential Bid
Yoo Seung-min, Visits Political Cafe House... Office Opening Next Month

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Opposition presidential hopefuls have begun their full-fledged preparations through forum lectures and other activities. Former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon will reveal his vision and aspirations as a presidential candidate on the afternoon of the 22nd at the "Towards a Better World" (Mapo Forum). The lecture topic, "How to Seize Power," is expected to serve as a de facto declaration of his presidential bid.

After the recent general election defeat, former Mayor Oh gave lectures at the "Future Innovation Forum" led by People Power Party lawmaker Jang Je-won and the party's freshman lawmakers' study group "Myungbulheojeon Conservative." At that time, Oh sharply criticized the Moon Jae-in administration's real estate policies and failures in North Korea policy, asserting his presence.

The Mapo Forum, led by former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Moo-sung, who calls himself a "kingmaker," and involving about 60 current and former lawmakers, has emerged as a prominent opposition presidential platform. Earlier, Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong officially announced his presidential bid at the Mapo Forum on the 15th, saying, "I have run five elections as a lawmaker and governor combined, and as long as the party nominates me, I have never lost to the Democratic Party. I want to run as the representative player of our team." The Mapo Forum plans to host lectures by Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, and former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min on the 12th and 26th of next month, respectively.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, who has been laying low since the last general election, is also expected to announce his intention to run for president again soon. In a video message posted on his fan club "Yusimcho" cafe last May, Yoo stated, "The primary election for next year's presidential candidate and the presidential election on March 9, 2022, which is one year and ten months away, will be my last political challenge." Yoo is expected to officially declare his presidential bid by opening an office across from the National Assembly next month.

On the afternoon of the 21st, Yoo visited the cooperative political cafe How's. How's is a cafe established by moderate conservative figures joining forces. Former People Power Party lawmaker Oh Shin-hwan, classified as part of the "Yoo Seung-min faction," serves as chairman, and about 150 current and former lawmakers and political figures participate as members. Upon Yoo's arrival, former lawmaker Oh suggested, "Declare your candidacy here." Yoo replied, "I heard rumors this is my presidential campaign headquarters, so I came because I liked it, but it’s not. I want to become a member, but they said I’m not eligible. I’ll visit later at the office."

Former lawmaker Oh emphasized, "There have been reports that this is a private organization for a specific individual’s presidential preparations, but that is not true at all. It is a space shared with citizens, not a personal space." It is known that besides Yoo, former Mayor Oh and Governor Won also visited the cafe’s opening ceremony. How's will hold a special lecture by Professor Emeritus Choi Jang-jip of Korea University on the topic "The Process of Democratic Change Since 1987" on the 30th.

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