Oh Se-hoon Actively Denies Naegok-dong Allegations... "Regrets Saying 'Did Not Know of Its Existence'"

On the 31st, Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party's candidate for Seoul mayor, attended the Seoul mayoral candidate invitation Kwanhoon debate held at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, and responded to questions regarding the 'Naegok-dong land suspicion.' Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

[Asia Economy Reporters Bomryeong Geum and Juni Park] Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor, devoted 45 minutes at the Kwanhun Debate on the 31st to actively refute the 'Naegok-dong land suspicion.'

On the day, Oh attended the Kwanhun Debate held at the Korea Press Center in Seoul and spent 45 minutes after the start of the debate explaining the suspicions surrounding his in-laws' land in Naegok-dong.

In response to continuous questions from reporters, Oh actively rebutted, even pulling out prepared charts. In particular, he spent about 10 minutes explaining that his in-laws' land in Naegok-dong was designated as 'public rental housing' under the Roh Moo-hyun administration and later became 'Bogeumjari Housing' during the transition to the Lee Myung-bak administration.

Oh said, "The law changed, and the documents were in the process of passing through the Seoul city government, but (the Democratic Party side) started this by saying I urged the designation," adding, "The stories that came out afterward were just exaggerations, distortions, twists, or attempts to obscure the essence."

Regarding the controversy over 'lying' or 'changing the story,' he showed a humble apology. About causing controversy by saying he "did not know of its existence," he said, "I reflect on it, but more accurately, the expression 'it was not in my consciousness' would be correct," and added, "During elections, there are many sudden questions, so it would have been better to respond like that from the start," adopting a strategy of 'it's better to admit what should be admitted.'

Earlier, when explaining that he did not visit the Naegok-dong surveying site, he also elaborated on his comment, "One must be humble before memory." Oh said, "My eldest brother-in-law definitely went, but I don't remember the younger brother-in-law going, and the younger brother-in-law remembers that he went," adding, "Since it was a memory from over ten years ago, I said, 'Memory cannot be trusted,' and that's why I said that."

He also emphasized the difficulties his family is experiencing. Due to this incident, his wife and in-laws feel sorry toward him. Oh explained, "When I go home, I am cautious because I worry about hurting my wife's feelings," and "My mother-in-law gets very upset, calls me, and worries, and this situation is making the whole family struggle."

Meanwhile, after the Kwanhun Debate, Oh plans to meet with various organizations one after another to appeal for support. He will hold a town hall meeting for small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners at the Korea Federation of SMEs, and have meetings with the Chungcheong Association chairpersons, Seoul-area disability organizations, and the Seoul headquarters of the Korean Federation of Trade Unions. In particular, a meeting with Kim Dong-myung, chairman of the Korean Federation of Trade Unions, is scheduled. Additionally, he will hold policy proposal handover ceremonies with the Korea Central Federation of Agricultural Entrepreneurs, the Seoul Pharmaceutical Association, and the Korea Residents' Autonomy Central Association.

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