People Power Party's Metropolitan Candidates Bow Out... Oh Se-hoon Says "Party Direction Must Change First" (2nd Update)

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

원본보기 아이콘

On March 8, applications for the People Power Party's nominations for metropolitan mayoral candidates in the June 3 local elections closed. While former People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Heesook declared her candidacy for Seoul mayor, lawmakers Na Kyungwon and Shin Dongwook, as well as Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, announced that they would not run.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon did not submit an application for the People Power Party's June 3 local election metropolitan mayoral candidacy, with the deadline being 6 p.m. that day. According to Mayor Oh's camp, the People Power Party leadership determined that, with the local elections approaching, it is a priority to first change the party's course by severing ties with former President Yoon Suk-yeol, and that is why this decision was made.

In a statement to the press on this day, Mayor Oh's camp said, "Mayor Oh appealed on March 7 that 'we can only turn defeat into victory when we resolve the prerequisite task of normalizing the party's direction,'" adding, "His stance remains unchanged, and he is still waiting for the party leadership and lawmakers to respond."

Previously, on March 7, Mayor Oh urged People Power Party leader Jang Donghyuk via a Facebook post, "Even if the application process is delayed, I hope our party lawmakers can at least hold a thorough debate." He further emphasized, "We must reach a conclusion on what will restore public trust and lead us to victory in the election."

Other prominent candidates, lawmakers Na Kyungwon and Shin Dongwook, also declared on this day that they would not run. Na Kyungwon, a five-term lawmaker representing Seoul, announced her decision not to run via Facebook, stating, "For this local election, I will take on a supporting role and serve as a foundation for our party's victory." She added, "Both the party and the local elections are in crisis," and that her decision came "after much deliberation, with the mindset of putting the party before oneself." She also stated that the party must be resilient in facing the ruling party's tyranny and that she would take the lead in this effort.

Shin Dongwook, a first-term lawmaker from Seoul and a member of the Supreme Council, also announced on Facebook, "I have concluded that, rather than moving forward now, it is right to pause for a moment and seek ways to dedicate myself to the party," thus declaring his non-participation in the Seoul mayoral primary. He said, "This local election is crucial for the fate of South Korea," and stressed, "The party leadership, candidates, members, and supporters must unite as one to stop the runaway actions of the Lee Jaemyung administration and the Democratic Party."

As of the morning of the application deadline, it was reported that former People Power Party Innovation Committee Chair Yoon Heesook and Lee Sangkyu, head of the party organization in Seongbuk-eul, Seoul, had submitted their applications for the Seoul mayoral nomination. On March 4, former lawmaker Yoon officially declared her candidacy for Seoul mayor, stating, "I will revive Seoul, which has been plagued by outdated politics, through 'straightforward politics' that confronts problems head-on and calls for honest change."

Song Eon-seok, Floor Leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on March 6, 2026. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

원본보기 아이콘

In addition to Seoul, leading candidates for the Gyeonggi Province governor race, including former lawmaker Yoo Seungmin and lawmaker Kim Eunhye, also announced that they would not run. Instead, Supreme Council member Yang Hyangja and former Korea Expressway Corporation President Ham Jingyu applied for the nomination. In Busan, the current mayor Park Hyungjoon and first-term lawmaker Joo Jinwoo both completed their applications, setting the stage for a two-way race.

Former People Power Party lawmaker Won Yoochul, who had previously declared his candidacy for Gyeonggi Province governor, also announced on this day that he would not run. On Facebook, he stated, "This has been a time for me to deeply reflect on the many shortcomings I have in challenging for the position of governor of Gyeonggi Province," and added, "Though my direct challenge ends here, my sincerity and commitment toward Gyeonggi Province will never cease." He also said, "Now, I will do my utmost to ensure the candidate selected by our party is victorious," adding, "I believe that is the least I can do for those who believed in and supported me despite my shortcomings."

The party's floor leadership has convened an emergency general meeting for lawmakers on March 9. Song Eon-seok, the People Power Party floor leader, said, "With less than 90 days left until the local elections, lawmakers' opinions are needed to secure victory." The party's reformist group, 'Alternatives and the Future,' insisted that "severing ties with the Yoon Again faction and a shift in party direction must be prioritized," and argued that the party's policy direction should be clarified at the general meeting.

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.