Seoul Mayor Refuses PPP Nomination, Exposing Rifts Ahead of June 3 Local Elections

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon again refused to file for nomination in the People Power Party’s supplementary recruitment for the June 3 local elections, saying the second call for applicants did not meet the scale of change he demands. The party had opened another window for candidates, but Oh declined to apply.

Oh reiterated that his stance centers on breaking with the political faction allied with former President Yoon Suk-yeol, noting that the leadership’s actions had not yet shown clear signs of this shift. He stressed that actions by the party leadership or ethics committee do not amount to a policy reversal and said he would participate in the election, denying rumors that he might skip or run as an independent.

In response to the growing tensions, PPP Leader Chang Dong-hyeok signaled some flexibility at a party meeting, asking the ethics committee not to pursue further disciplinary actions before the local elections. Yet Oh remained skeptical, indicating that the proposed reforms were still insufficient in his view.

Oh disclosed that he met with Floor Leader Song Eon-seok and urged the early creation of an Innovative Campaign Committee to accelerate a reform-focused campaign strategy. The request underscored the sense within the party that its approach to the Seoul mayoral race needs rapid, visible changes.

Despite the friction, the party has not ruled out additional recruitment if, under the central aim of winning Seoul and neighboring Chungnam, such a move would be appropriate. Nomination Management Committee Chair Lee Jeong-hyeon said additional recruitment remains possible if it serves the party’s core objective of victory in key regions.

Analysts warn that the intra-party split could complicate the PPP’s electoral prospects. If Oh runs, it risks splitting the conservative vote in a city where commercial interests and urban policy decisions will be closely watched by multinational firms. If he withdraws, the party could struggle to mount a cohesive, credible campaign.

A nationwide poll conducted from the 9th to the 11th by Embrain Public, K-Stat Research, Korea Research, and Korea Research Institute showed dynamics that matter beyond Korea. In the Daegu–Gyeongbuk (TK) region, the PPP trails the Democratic Party 25% to 29%, a reversal from two weeks earlier when both were tied at 28%. Across the country, the PPP stood at 17%, the lowest since the leadership change, highlighting broader concerns about the party’s appeal ahead of regional and national contests.

For U.S. readers, the stakes extend beyond Seoul’s implications for local governance. Seoul governs a major technology and business hub, influencing foreign investment, urban infrastructure, housing policy, and regulatory environments that affect multinational firms operating in Korea. The local election’s outcome could signal broader national political dynamics, potentially shaping Korea’s policy alignment with the United States on security, technology collaboration, and supply chains critical to the American market.