Oh Se-hoon Files to Run as PPP Candidate for Seoul Mayor

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon held a news briefing on the deadline for a third round of nomination submissions, saying he will register as the Seoul mayor candidate for the People Power Party. Oh had previously refused two rounds of nominations before today’s deadline.

In remarks reported by MBC News, Oh said he would run “with a sense of responsibility to Seoul citizens and the spirit of putting the party before self.” He framed his decision as a pledge to fulfill duties to residents while aligning with party principles.

Oh also drew a sharp rebuke at the party leadership, targeting Jang Dong-hyeok’s camp. He asserted that the leadership has not demonstrated the willingness to pursue change that would satisfy the public, and warned that if the leadership abandons reforms or fails to change, he would begin changing things from Seoul.

The report frames this as part of the ongoing nomination process for Seoul’s mayoral race, a high-profile contest given Seoul’s status as South Korea’s capital and largest city. The People Power Party controls the nomination process for its candidate in the capital city, a race that carries national political significance.

For U.S. readers, the development matters because Seoul shapes South Korea’s economic, technology, and security landscape. The mayor’s policies influence the city’s business climate, housing and urban development, and relations with multinational firms, including U.S. companies operating in Korea. Seoul’s governance can affect regulatory momentum, infrastructure projects, and the broader investment environment in one of Asia’s leading technology hubs.

As Seoul’s largest city, the outcome of the mayoral race also feeds into national political dynamics that shape U.S.-Korea cooperation on trade, technology, and regional security. Observers will watch whether Oh’s stance signals a shift within the ruling party that could influence policy direction beyond the capital.