Oh Se-hoon could keep running for Seoul mayor — or president

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon speaks at the Press Center in central Seoul on Thursday after being assured of victory in the Seoul mayoral election. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon of the People Power Party (PPP) won another term, and moved a step closer to running for president.

According to the National Election Commission on Thursday, Oh beat Song Young-gil, a former five-term Democratic Party (DP) lawmaker and ex-mayor of Incheon, with 59.05 percent of the vote, compared to 39.23 percent for Song.

Oh won majorities in all 25 districts, receiving an overwhelming number of votes in Seocho (72.31 percent) and Gangnam (74.38 percent) districts in southeastern Seoul. Even in areas that were considered pro-DP, Oh did well, such as Guro (56.2 percent), Gangbuk (53.62 percent), Eunpyeong (53.49 percent), Geumcheon (53.85 percent), Dobong (56.44 percent), and Gwanak (53.03 percent). Oh's margin of victory increased by more than two percentage points in all these districts compared to last year’s by-election.

Some existing schisms in the population of the capital city were confirmed in the election, including divisions along gender and age lines.

The gap between young Korean males supporting the PPP and young Korean females supporting the DP widened compared to the presidential election three months ago.

An exit poll conducted by the three terrestrial broadcasters the previous evening found some 75.1 percent of men in their 20s and younger voted for Oh, while 24.6 percent voted for Song. On the flip side, 67 percent of women in their 20s and younger voted for Song, while 30.9 percent supported Oh.

For people in their 30s, 66.6 percent of men voted for Oh, and 54.1 percent of women support Song.

Oh received a high approval rating of 60 to 70 percent among people in their 60s and older.

Oh returned to work as mayor — which was suspended during the campaign period — and greeted employees at City Hall.

“I feel a heavier sense of responsibility than ever before,” the mayor said. “Not a single promise made during the election was empty — and I will fulfill them one by one.

"I will make sure to keep the promises I made for the next four years,” Oh said. “The history of Seoul begins anew now.”

Oh's enjoying a robust political comeback.

He served as mayor of the capital from 2006 to 2010. After he was re-elected for his second term in 2010, however, Oh made a major misstep by calling for a referendum on a plan to offer free school lunches to only 30 percent of Seoul's students. The turnout for the referendum was below the legal minimum for a quorum, leading him to resign.

He attempted a return to politics by running in the 2016 legislative election to represent Seoul's Jongno District and in the 2020 general election for Gwangjin B District of Seoul, but failed both time — putting his political career at stake.

But he returned to City Hall by winning a by-election in April 2021. It was called after his successor, Park Won-soon, committed suicide after being accused of sexual harassment.

With Wednesday's victory, Oh Se-hoon became the first person to serve a fourth term as Seoul mayor. His victory opens up the strong possibility of a presidential campaign.

Seoul's mayor — responsible for around 10 million residents — is the only head of a metropolitan government to receive ministerial-level treatment, and can participate in Cabinet meetings chaired by the president or the prime minister, and have a direct channel to the president.

The PPP's electoral success in Seoul's district office heads and city council is also expected to help Oh in city management.

In a television interview early Thursday, Oh said the idea of him being a probable presidential candidate is “too hasty and extravagant.”

“As there are many pending issues, I will focus on fulfilling my responsibility as a mayor,” he said.

In a discussion last month hosted by the Kwanhun Club, an association of journalists, Oh said, “The mayor of Seoul is as important as the presidency, and I am also considering running for a fifth term.”

Oh will end his term as the 38th mayor of Seoul at the end of this month and begin his new four-year term on July 1.

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]