South Korea's PPP Blocks Oh Se-hoon's Early Committee Push Ahead of Local Elections

South Korea’s ruling People Power Party (PPP) articulated strong objections on Thursday to Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon’s call for an early launch of an “Innovative Election Campaign Committee,” saying the move could become a source of conflict and division. Senior Spokesperson Park Seong-hoon said the committee should be a driver of reform, not a platform that splits the party or forces its leadership to step down.

Park emphasized that unity within the party ahead of the June 3 local elections is paramount, noting that the timing of the campaign committee’s formation is being considered by party leadership. He added that what matters most is showing a cohesive front, not who leads the campaign apparatus.

On Oh’s suggestion that additional registrations for Seoul’s mayoral race could be accepted, Park said the decisions will rest with the party’s Nomination Management Committee chair and the Nomination Committee, who must judge these matters transparently. He personally suggested that both additional registrations and strategic nominations remain possible.

Regarding the resignation of Lee Jung-hyun, the head of the Nomination Management Committee, Park said there had been no prior consultation with party leadership about this move, and that leadership is trying to persuade Lee to reconsider. He cautioned against linking Lee’s resignation to a specific politician, including Oh Se-hoon.

Park also discussed potential personnel changes, such as the possible resignation of the Ethics Committee chair. He warned that reshuffles should be weighed for whether they help secure local-electoral victory or risk fueling internal power struggles or becoming pretexts for factional battles.

Turning to polling, Park acknowledged the PPP’s historically low support and said the party accepts the position humbly, stressing the need to demonstrate political efficacy as the main opposition. He underscored the importance of rebuilding support among centrists and swing voters to restore conservative unity.

For U.S. readers, these developments matter because South Korea’s local elections influence national policy directions, regional security posture, and economic and technology policy in a close alliance with the United States. The party’s unity or infighting can affect how Seoul coordinates on defense, supply chains for semiconductors and other tech sectors, and broader regional diplomacy with Washington. The Seoul mayoral race and the fate of key party positions thus carry implications beyond Korea’s borders.