Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon stated that the focus of separation should be on former President Yoon Suk Yeol's political misjudgments, while maintaining a relationship with Yoon's support base.
In an interview with Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun on July 4, Oh remarked, "Yoon's political misjudgments have put conservatives in a crisis, but the public does not reject conservatism itself."
He outlined the conditions for rebuilding conservatism as 'sincerity,' 'inclusiveness,' and 'competence,' emphasizing the need to engage with socially vulnerable groups and establish a foundation for sustainable growth. He added, "If we can demonstrate our ability to improve the quality of life for the public through results, conservatism can once again become a source of hope."
When asked about the importance of party unity versus expanding to the center, Oh stated, "Both are important. A political party needs a core support base, but elections ultimately depend on how many undecided and centrist voters we can secure."
Regarding his relationship with Yoon's supporters, he reiterated, "We must maintain that relationship; the focus of separation should be on Yoon's political misjudgments." He also expressed willingness to collaborate with like-minded individuals, including independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon and Reform Party leader Lee Jun-seok.
When questioned about the possibility of running in the 2030 presidential election, Oh said, "There is always a possibility," but emphasized that his current priority is achieving results in the Seoul administration.
Oh also criticized the Lee Jae-myung administration and the ruling party, stating that the Democratic Party's push for a special investigation law to cancel President Lee's indictment could lead to a loss of political influence and negatively impact the 2028 general elections.
On the government's real estate policies, he expressed disagreement with raising both property and transaction taxes while significantly restricting housing loans, warning that such measures could lead to adverse effects like rising jeonse deposits and monthly rents.
Oh identified sustainable growth and expanding housing supply as key priorities for his new term, stressing that quickly providing quality housing is urgent for stabilizing the real estate market.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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