Seoul City Raided on First Day of Early Voting... Oh Se-hoon: "Blatant Election Interference"

Police Conduct Search and Seizure at Seoul City Hall on First Day of Early Voting, May 29

"Barbaric Act Unseen Even Under Authoritarian Regimes"

O Sehun, the People Power Party's Seoul mayoral candidate, criticized the Lee Jaemyung administration on May 29, the first day of early voting, regarding the police raid on Seoul Metropolitan Government, calling it an "overt intervention in the election" and "an attempt at an administration-led election to bring down the opposition candidate."

On May 29, 2026, O Sehun, the People Power Party's Seoul mayoral candidate, responded to reporters' questions after finishing voting at the early voting station set up at Hannam-dong Community Center in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the first day of early voting for the 9th nationwide local elections. Photo by Hyunmin Kim

At a press conference held at his campaign office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the same day, O stated, "Today is the first day of early voting and the effective start of the June 3 local elections," adding, "However, the very first action shown to voters by the Lee Jaemyung administration was the raid on Seoul Metropolitan Government." Earlier that morning, the police had conducted a search and seizure operation targeting the Seoul Urban Infrastructure Headquarters and construction firms in connection with the collapse of the Seosomun overpass.

O further pointed out, "Yesterday, just one day before voting began, President Lee Jaemyung effectively gave a directive for a politically motivated investigation," and continued, "As soon as morning broke, investigative authorities swiftly descended upon the very heart of a metropolitan government where an opposition candidate is in office."

He also emphasized, "This is a barbaric act that even authoritarian regimes did not dare to commit," and asserted, "It is blatant election interference backed by power, and a clear election operation mobilizing investigative agencies."

O added, "Most of all, at a time when thorough accident response and countermeasures should have been the top priority, they recklessly initiated a forced investigation," and claimed, "While we anticipated a comfortable victory in this election, the lack of capability and qualifications of the 'Myung-Pick' candidate has become painfully apparent to the public."

He went on to say, "As the election turned into a neck-and-neck race, those in power are now swinging the sword held by the president to shake up the election and blind the people's eyes and ears," adding, "This arrogant administration, driven by impatience, will only turn this election into a vote of warning from the people. Any attempt at an administration-led election to bring down the opposition candidate will only provoke a fierce backlash."

Even when speaking with reporters after the press conference, O stated, "A forced investigation right before the vote at the final stage of the election is not just crossing the line, but utterly outrageous," and declared, "No matter the type of investigation, I will respond confidently. I have no reason to avoid it."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.