Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, PPP Leader Jang Dong-hyuk Clash Over Nomination Process

The standoff between Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk over follow-up steps to verify the credibility of the so-called Jeolyun Declaration continued on the 13th. Jang arrived at the party leadership office in the National Assembly to handle official business, then left for personal matters.

In a briefing with reporters at the National Assembly, Jang defended his party’s nomination process, saying, “Nominations are the lifeblood of fairness.” He was responding to Oh Se-hoon’s demands for an innovative campaign committee and a personnel shake-up, and to Oh’s refusal to accept additional candidate applications by a 6 p.m. deadline the previous day.

Oh had pressed for the launch of an innovative campaign leadership and argued that the local election should be conducted under a new leadership team. His stance underscores a broader push within the party to refresh its campaign structure ahead of local elections.

Separately, Jang said he would meet the head of the party’s nomination management committee to hear his views. He added that he had just received a report on the situation and planned to respond directly once he had spoken with the involved official.

Jang noted that Lee Jeong-hyeon, the head of the nomination management committee, had signaled a resignation intention. He added that he learned of this around 9:10 a.m. at the National Assembly and had attempted to contact Lee, whose phone appeared to be off at the time.

Lee Jeong-hyeon’s possible resignation has become a focal point in the party’s internal discussions over how nominations for the Seoul mayoral race should be handled and who should lead the campaign apparatus. Jang said he would meet with Lee to hear his perspective as soon as contact is possible.

Why this matters beyond Korea: Seoul’s mayoral politics matter to U.S. readers because Seoul is a major global city and a key economic hub for South Korea, a longtime U.S. ally. Internal party reforms and leadership alignments can influence policy directions on technology, supply chains, housing, and regional security coordination. The outcome may affect how South Korea project its economic and security priorities, including cooperation with the United States on technology policy, defense, and trade. Uncertainty within the governing party around election campaigns and governance in Seoul can also impact investor confidence and market expectations for one of Asia’s leading markets.