Oh Se-hoon Revives People Power Party with 'Victory'..."Regains Leadership in Opposition's Political Realignment"

Increased Likelihood of Yoon Seok-yeol Joining Politics and Aligning with People Power Party
Growing Attention on Reformist Right-Wing Platform Promoted by Oh Se-hoon
Establishing a Foundation for Opposition Innovation Beyond People Power Party and People Party

Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate selected as the unified candidate of the broad opposition for the Seoul mayoral by-election, clenched his fists tightly after finishing a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office on the 23rd. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] With the People Power Party successfully fielding its own candidate in the Seoul mayoral by-election held about a year before the presidential election, the future reorganization of the opposition is expected to proceed centered on the People Power Party. In particular, the role of Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party’s Seoul mayoral candidate who has stepped up in stature, could also grow. Of course, this depends on Oh defeating Park Young-sun, the Democratic Party’s Seoul mayoral candidate, in the general election. The possibility has also increased that Yoon Seok-youl, the former Prosecutor General who has emerged as a leading opposition presidential contender, will move toward the People Power Party rather than a third zone. Conversely, if Oh fails to defeat Park, the presence of the People Power Party will weaken, and Ahn Cheol-soo, the People’s Party’s Seoul mayoral candidate, will have room to raise his voice again.

In fact, Oh has expressed plans to establish a reformist right-wing platform beyond just becoming Seoul mayor. He mentioned Yoon, former Deputy Prime Minister Kim Dong-yeon, former lawmaker Hong Jung-wook, and former lawmaker Geum Tae-seop, expressing his determination to recruit them even if it requires persistent efforts. On the day, he appeared on CBS Radio’s ‘Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show’ and said, “I have already mentioned that I have had direct phone calls with some people and that indirect communication channels have been established with others,” adding, “I strongly hope that they will help the opposition recapture the Seoul mayor’s office this time and secure a foothold for next year’s presidential election.”

If Oh wins the Seoul mayoral election, the actual leadership of the opposition reorganization will be held by the People Power Party. Park Sang-byeong, a visiting professor at Inha University Graduate School of Policy, predicted, “After the by-elections, the party will be properly organized, and the opposition will be reorganized centered on the People Power Party, preparing for next year’s presidential election.” An Il-won, CEO of Research View, also said, “The opposition’s history of consecutive defeats since the 2016 general election will end, and the path to recapturing the capital after 10 years will open,” adding, “This momentum will become the leadership of the opposition reorganization.”

Discussions on the merger between the People Power Party and the People’s Party are expected to require more observation. Although Ahn expressed his intention to push for a merger regardless of the Seoul mayoral candidate unification, it is expected that the People’s Party will face increased concerns. Ahn said, “We need to see whether the People’s Party will keep its original promise to merge or choose a third option,” but added, “The possibility of the party itself being absorbed and integrated into the People Power Party has increased.” For now, the litmus test seems to be a coalition administration between the People Power Party and the People’s Party. Oh and Ahn are known to have prepared a considerable level of cooperation plans related to this issue several times. The key is whether a stable coalition administration system can be established according to these plans in the first phase.

If Oh is elected mayor and Yoon begins his presidential campaign in earnest, the possibility of Yoon knocking on the People Power Party’s door will also increase. Yoon, who has refrained from noticeable external activities after his retirement, is widely expected to expand his activities after the April 7 by-elections. Although a third zone was considered likely, as the opposition is increasingly reorganized around the People Power Party, the view that Yoon will join hands with the People Power Party is gaining strength. Various stories are emerging about the future of Kim Jong-in, the emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party. As Kim continued a strong stance during the unification phase with Ahn and showed results, his role is expected to grow until the presidential election. Kim has been confident of the People Power Party’s victory since the discussions on opposition candidate unification began.

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