Oh Se-hoon Holds Final Campaign Rally in Sinchon

"Experience matters. The person who has been working will do well, right?"

On June 2, around 8 p.m., Sinchon Station's Star Square in the Seodaemun District of Seoul was filled with supporters attending the final campaign rally of Oh Se-hoon, the candidate from the People Power Party for the Seoul mayoral election. Given the proximity to several universities, many young voters in their 20s and 30s were also present.

As Oh took the stage, supporters waved placards bearing his name and the number '2', cheering for his appearance. When Oh greeted the crowd with a hoarse voice, some expressed concern, saying, "Oh no, your voice is hoarse," and "You sound completely worn out."

Citizens at the rally shared their reasons for supporting Oh. Jeong Myeong-seon, a woman in her 60s residing in Seodaemun, stated, "I don't support the party, but I support the person," expressing hope for Oh's victory. She explained that she was once a member of the People Power Party but left due to the corruption scandal involving former President Park Geun-hye, and recently became disillusioned with the party under former President Yoon Suk-yeol.

While acknowledging that Jeong Won-oh, the Democratic Party candidate, has accumulated achievements as the head of the Seongdong District Office, she emphasized, "There are many projects like the redevelopment of Yujin Shopping Center and the light rail project that need to be completed. The person who has been working on these should finish them."

The 'Main Enemy Challenge' circulating on social media, aimed at candidates in the local elections and by-elections, also emerged as a reason for supporting Oh. This challenge involves asking candidates, "Who do you consider to be South Korea's main enemy?" It has primarily targeted candidates from the ruling party, with conservative candidates responding "North Korea," while Democratic Party candidates often evade the question, becoming subjects of ridicule.

Kim, a 23-year-old living in Sinchon, remarked, "Seeing Democratic Party candidates unable to say North Korea is the main enemy made me decide to vote for the People Power Party candidate," adding, "I’m not a party member, but I support them." A man in his 60s, Baek, from Mapo District, noted, "I was originally neutral, but I became concerned when I saw Democratic candidates unable to name North Korea as the main enemy," stating he did not participate in early voting but planned to vote for Oh in the main election.

Park, a 65-year-old supporter who came to cheer for Oh's final rally from Eunpyeong District, expressed dissatisfaction with President Lee Jae-myung, saying, "There are many things I dislike about what this president is doing," and added, "The president and Democratic candidates have so many criminal issues that they are not worthy of my vote."