Five-Term Seoul Mayor Elected... Oh Sehoon: "Victory for Common Sense, I Will Devote All My Capabilities"(Updated)

Overtaking Jeong Only in the Morning of June 4
Widening the Gap, Pledging to "Complete Global Seoul" and Calling It "A Victory for Future Generations"
Securing an Advantage on Key Issues like the Han River Bus and Garden of Gratitude
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The first 'five-term Seoul mayor' in the history of South Korea’s constitutional government has been born. Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate who sought a third consecutive term in the June 3 local elections, defeated Jeong Won-oh, the Democratic Party of Korea candidate, to become the mayor of Seoul. This outcome is expected to ensure continuity in Seoul’s city administration as well as the establishment of 'Oh Se-hoon brand' initiatives such as the Rapid Integrated Planning and the Hangang Bus. Mayor Oh has also solidified his political standing.

Osseun Oh, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor, expressed his stance at the election office set up in Daewang Building, Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 4th, the day after the 9th nationwide local elections, and then raised a bouquet of flowers. Photo by Yonhap News

At around 10 a.m. on June 4, Mayor Oh declared victory, stating, "I do not see the results of this election as a personal victory for Oh Se-hoon. It is a victory for young people, who, despite their frustrations due to the breakdown of the social ladder, still dream of a hopeful future." He added, "With this victory for common sense, citizens have firmly established the great cause of democracy, which is balance. For these final four years that you have granted me, I will pour in all my experience and capabilities."

This election saw an extremely close race between Mayor Oh and candidate Jeong. According to exit polls released immediately after voting ended the previous day, Jeong was ahead with 51.4% compared to Oh's 46.0%. However, after 7 a.m. on June 4, Oh managed to overtake Jeong.

Mayor Oh led Jeong in a total of 10 districts, including the three Gangnam districts—Gangnam, Seocho, and Songpa—as well as Yongsan, Dongjak, Gwangjin, Yeongdeungpo, Gangdong, and other areas along the Hangang Belt. Although Jeong was ahead in the remaining 15 districts, Oh was able to overturn the overall result by widening the margin by around 100,000 votes in each of the three Gangnam districts. An unprecedented situation of a "shortage of ballot papers" occurred in Jamsil-dong, Songpa-gu, but it did not affect the outcome. As of 10:10 a.m. on June 4, with 97.92% of the ballots counted, the National Election Commission reported that Oh had received 2,508,085 votes and Jeong had received 2,476,548 votes.

On June 4, before entering Seoul City Hall, Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate who has been virtually confirmed as the mayor-elect of Seoul in the June 3 local elections, gave a greeting. Photo by Yonhap News

Mayor Oh, in running for a third consecutive term, had pledged to complete the vision of 'Global Seoul.' Major development projects initiated in the 8th popularly elected term, such as the undergrounding of the Inner Ring Road and the Northern Arterial Road, as well as the Rapid Integrated Planning, are now likely to be completed, alongside the Hangang Bus, the Climate Companion Card, and the restructuring of Gwanghwamun Square.

In particular, Oh is expected to gain an advantage on issues that have expanded into the political sphere, such as the redevelopment of Sewoon District 4, the Hangang Bus, and the Garden of Gratitude. A senior official at Seoul Metropolitan Government said, "With the choice of Seoul citizens, the policies promoted in the 8th term will now bear fruit," and continued, "We will address the issues pointed out during the election and accelerate the completion of Global Seoul."

The core of Mayor Oh's policy, 'Companionship with the Vulnerable,' will also be strengthened. The scope of support will be expanded beyond simple assistance to disadvantaged and low-income groups, with detailed measures according to different life stages to create a 'Seoul where children, parents, and seniors all feel secure.' Key initiatives include the 'Our Child Care Safety Net,' which ensures access to care services near home in all 426 administrative neighborhoods in Seoul; the introduction of the 'Seoul-Style Sandwich Generation Pension (Seoul-Style IRP)' that provides a pension safety net for the middle-aged; and the reform of 'Stepping Stone Income 2.0.'

In the economic sector, Mayor Oh has pledged to create an average of 522,000 jobs per year. A 'Next Economy Seoul Fund' worth 4 trillion won will be established to foster strategic hubs. Public sector jobs will also be created through digital transformation processes such as urban data management and smart city operations. With the philosophy that 'tourism is employment,' a goal has been set to attract 30 million tourists by 2030, generating 540,000 jobs.

Furthermore, Mayor Oh has promised the '10-Minute Subway Station from Home' initiative, which aims to achieve accessibility so that citizens can reach a city railway station within 10 minutes of their doorstep. By investing 9.2 trillion won by 2029, the plan is to start construction early on seven subway lines, connecting 83 stations across more than 170 neighborhoods. The mayor also pledged to reduce travel times and enhance perceived transportation benefits for citizens by integrating rail, bus, and pedestrian systems.

However, the changes in the composition of the Seoul Metropolitan Council and the significant turnover among the heads of the 25 districts are seen as variables. The city council not only enacts and amends autonomous ordinances but also reviews Seoul’s budget, approves organizational reforms, and conducts administrative audits, all of which influence city administration. In 2021, when the Democratic Party controlled the council, conflicts over the budget and personnel continued between the city government and the council, and there was even an incident where Mayor Oh was expelled from the main session during a city administration question period.

The 25 districts have also undergone changes. The number of People Power Party-affiliated district heads dropped from 17 in the 8th popularly elected term to eight. Since cooperation with district offices is necessary for various development projects and welfare policies, checks from the city council, along with these district-level changes, represent new challenges for Mayor Oh.

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