Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon Won't Register With PPP Until Innovation Campaign Committee Forms

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon says he will not skip the June 3 local elections or run as an independent, but he cannot yet register as a People Power Party candidate because the party has not produced an “Innovation Campaign Committee” and other reform measures he considers essential.

Oh told reporters on the 12th that he has already conveyed his demands to party leader Jang Dong-hyeok and has pressed for action several times, yet there are no signs of progress or concrete steps toward change.

He also cited a remark from party floor leader Song Eon-seok that the party should “register first and discuss later,” but Oh warned that taking that path could delay or undermine efforts to implement reforms.

Oh emphasized that he has never contemplated running as an independent, and he does not expect to do so, even if conditions remain unmet. He said he would be prepared to register if there are even small signs of change.

If there is a bit more time before the registration window, Oh said he could register and would actively campaign as a candidate, underscoring his willingness to run under the party banner only if leadership signals reform.

The episode reflects ongoing tensions within the People Power Party over how to organize its campaign apparatus ahead of regional elections in which Seoul’s mayoralty is a high-profile prize. Seoul is Korea’s capital and its largest city, with significant economic and policy influence on national affairs.

For U.S. readers, the episode matters because Seoul’s leadership shapes urban policy on housing, transportation, technology, and digital governance—areas that affect foreign investment, supply chains, and the broader business climate in a key U.S. ally. Internal party reforms and the stability of Korea’s ruling coalition can also influence security coordination and technology policy with the United States, including sectors tied to semiconductors and high-tech manufacturing.

Context: “Innovation Campaign Committee” refers to a revamped campaign leadership structure sought by Oh. The 6.3 local elections will decide mayors and local councils across South Korea, with Seoul as a central focal point. The report comes from YTN.