Three-way conservative alliance could reshape Korea's center-right, analyst says
A Seoul-based conservative commentator argues that a three-way alliance among Oh Se-hoon, Han Dong-hoon, and Lee Jun-seok could be the only path to rebuilding Korea’s center-right, ahead of upcoming local elections and by-elections. Cho Gab-je, head of Cho Gab-je.com, says the trio differ in age and temperament but share opposition to what he calls liberal-leaning overreach and conspiracy theories surrounding emergency rule and election fraud.
Cho identifies Oh Se-hoon as Seoul mayor, Han Dong-hoon as a former leader of the People Power Party, and Lee Jun-seok as the head of the Reform Party. He envisions them stepping forward in different electoral battlegrounds to generate momentum: Oh in Seoul, Han in a Busan by-election, and Lee in Gyeonggi Province’s governor race. He argues that such a spread could mobilize a broad conservative base.
The analyst cautions that the trio would not merely join a single ticket but would form a strategic bloc designed to shift the political center. He asserts that with the right alignment, the movement could push both far-right and far-left forces toward the political middle.
A common thread Cho cites is opposition to emergency powers and to what he describes as anti-democracy conspiracy talk. He contends that Oh, Han, and Lee have united on a platform that prioritizes anti-regime rhetoric and anti-conspiracy messaging, while also drawing on their appeal and rhetorical skills to win broad public support.
Cho also notes the practical challenge of such an alliance, invoking a Chinese idiom that describes advancing in tandem while advancing separately. The idea is that even if each candidate runs in a different region, their combined presence could amplify a single conservative wave across the country.
If realized, the plan could dilute the influence of a faction within the ruling People Power Party and forge a broad conservative belt spanning the capital region and the Yeongnam area around Daegu and Busan. Cho argues this would be more novel and potentially more capable than competing opposition arrangements.
Finally, Cho predicts that the proposed triangle could spark a broader political comeback, creating a new frame for a politics that fits the AI era. He touts the trio as proven performers who could energize the conservative coalition and reshape Korea’s political narrative.
For U.S. readers, the development matters because shifts in Korea’s domestic politics can influence the U.S.-South Korea alliance, defense posture, and regional security calculations. A stronger or differently aligned conservative bloc could affect Seoul’s approach to alliance commitments, defense cost-sharing discussions, and North Korea policy. Korea’s leadership choices also bear on tech policy and digital campaigning, including the use of AI tools in elections, which have implications for transparency, misinformation risks, and governance of AI in political life. Moreover, Korea remains a key hub in global supply chains for semiconductors and electronics; changes in its political climate can affect investor confidence, regulatory timing, and market stability that reverberate beyond its borders.