O Se-hoon's Experience... Expresses Intention to Challenge for Fifth Term as Mayor Rather Than Presidential Bid

Mayor Oh Se-hoon Appears on Korean Regional Private Broadcasting Association Special Talk on the 30th: "99% Determined to Challenge for a 5th Term as Mayor Rather Than Presidential Bid"... Mayor Oh's Remarks on the Day Seen as Reaffirming His Initial Commitment to Devote Every Minute and Second to City Administration... Also Expressed Support for the Yoon Seok-yeol Administration, Indicating a Strategy to Secure a Stable Position... Seoul City Officials Show Relief at Mayor Oh's Stable Stance

Mayor Oh Se-hoon (right) visited Yeomgok Underpass on the 18th and received a report on the management status of the tunnel and underpass from the head of the Guryong Tunnel Management Office. He also inspected facilities such as barriers that prevent vehicle entry during flooding and electronic signboards indicating entry prohibition.

Oh Se-hoon, the 'first elected 4-term mayor of Seoul,' is gaining attention for being regarded as increasingly seasoned.

After serving as the elected mayor of Seoul for the 4th term, Oh suddenly resigned over the free school meals issue and had a hiatus of over ten years. He made a spectacular comeback through the 7th term by-election held following the sudden death of Mayor Park Won-soon. He is recorded as a politician with a unique connection to by-elections.

Now elected for the 8th term, Mayor Oh is working hard to achieve a 'Second Seoul Renaissance' by pushing forward major projects such as the rapid integration and reconstruction of super high-rise apartments in Yeouido, Mok-dong, Yongsan, and Apgujeong-dong, the Great Hangang Project, and the Garden City initiative.

Amid this, there has also been increased interest in Mayor Oh's potential next presidential bid. However, he took a humble stance. On the morning of the 30th, appearing on a special talk by the Korean Regional Private Broadcasting Association, when asked about his intentions regarding a 'presidential bid' and 'a 5th term as Seoul mayor,' he firmly stated, "I am 99% determined to be mayor of Seoul again." He also said, "I sincerely believe that completing the projects I started with my own hands and making Seoul a city recognized worldwide, standing shoulder to shoulder with New York, London, and Paris, is as important as running the country."

This appears to be a political judgment to avoid unnecessary issues regarding the presidential matter, which is still more than three years away. It also seems to be a message to provide stability to city employees working for the Second Seoul Renaissance. If the mayor were to show an intention to run for president, Seoul city officials could be immediately unsettled.

A senior Seoul city official commented, "Mayor Oh’s statement means exactly what he said at the beginning of his term?that he will spare not a single minute or second and focus on city administration without hesitation," and interpreted it as a message encouraging city employees to adopt the same attitude toward administration.

Regarding questions about the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, he said, "I am generally supportive of the president’s governance philosophy," adding, "I strongly agree with the focus on science and technology and the active efforts to restore the disrupted order."

By expressing active support for the Yoon administration, which faces difficulties amid a National Assembly dominated by the opposition, he appears to intend to strengthen the government.

Thus, after a hiatus of over ten years, Mayor Oh is evaluated as showing a more mature leadership style.

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