According to the National Election Commission, as of 10:30 a.m. on June 4, with 98.16% of votes counted, Oh secured 49% of the vote, while Jung received 48.28%. The margin between the two candidates was just 37,178 votes. Initially, Jung led by more than 30 percentage points, but as the counting progressed, Oh managed to overtake Jung's vote share.
In his victory speech, Oh stated, "This election is a victory for common sense. The citizens have firmly established the great principle of democracy, which is checks and balances. Seoul has remained the last bastion of democracy, preventing South Korea from tipping completely to one side."
He added, "Now it's time to get back to work. I will return to the administration immediately and address the issues that burden the lives of citizens one by one." Oh emphasized his commitment to creating a city where everyone, regardless of their background, can achieve fair opportunities, and to making Seoul a city that fosters pride and a warmer, healthier quality of life.
Regarding the shortage of ballots, he expressed deep regret, stating, "As a candidate, I feel profound regret over the infringement of citizens' voting rights, which are fundamental and sacred to democracy. A thorough investigation into what went wrong is necessary, and there must be serious accountability and fundamental improvements."
While the Democratic Party won in 12 out of 16 metropolitan elections, Oh's victory is seen as a significant win for the People Power Party, reclaiming the politically symbolic Seoul. However, there are concerns that Oh's distancing from party leader Jang Dong-hyuk during the campaign may complicate attributing the victory solely to him.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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