Kim Byungmin, Seoul Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs, Resigns to Join Oh Se-hoon's Election Campaign

by Kim Pyeonghwa

Published 26 Apr.2026 17:15(KST)

Mayor Oh Focuses on Criticizing Jeong Wonoh

Kim Byungmin, Seoul Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs, will join the campaign of Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who is running as the People Power Party’s candidate for Seoul Mayor in the nationwide local elections scheduled for June 3.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Kim Byungmin, Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs of Seoul (right). Photo by Yonhap News Agency

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on April 26, Deputy Mayor Kim has reportedly expressed his intention to resign in order to join the campaign. A Seoul city official told Yonhap News, "With Mayor Oh set to register as a preliminary candidate on the 27th, Deputy Mayor Kim made the decision to play a role in the election."

The Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs is a vice minister-level political appointee, responsible for communication and coordination with various organizations, including the National Assembly and the media. Since taking office in July 2024, Deputy Mayor Kim has worked to ensure that Seoul’s policies are promoted with broad social consensus.

In addition to Deputy Mayor Kim, several other aides to Mayor Oh-such as Lee Jonghyun, Special Adviser for Public Communication, Park Chankoo, Special Adviser for Political Affairs, Park Hyungsoo, Special Adviser for Policy, and Lee Jihyun, Chief Planning Adviser-are also reported to have resigned in order to join the campaign.

Meanwhile, Mayor Oh continues to criticize Jeong Wonoh, former mayor of Seongdong District and the Democratic Party's candidate for Seoul Mayor. The previous day, Mayor Oh posted on his social media, “What exactly is Candidate Jeong’s position on the abolition of the presidential long-term ownership special deduction?”