Oh Se-hoon: "This Election Is a Victory for Common Sense... Will Convey Public Sentiment at Cabinet Meeting"

Acceptance Speech Delivered on the Morning of June 4

Raises Strong Criticism Against the Special Prosecutor Act on Prosecution Withdrawal

Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party's candidate for Seoul mayor, expressed his thoughts on his victory on June 4, stating, "This election is a victory for common sense."

On June 4, 2026, Oh Se-hoon, elected mayor of Seoul from the People Power Party in the June 3 local elections, greets after finishing his victory speech at the campaign office set up in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

Oh delivered his victory remarks, containing this message, at his campaign office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the morning of June 4.

He emphasized, "It is a victory for young people, who, despite their frustration with the broken ladder of upward mobility, dared to dream once again of a fair and hopeful future. It is a victory for ordinary citizens suffering through a nightmarish rental market, for working couples searching for safe childcare, and for residents waiting in old homes for reconstruction. It is a victory for these ordinary and diligent citizens."

Oh continued, "You, the citizens, have once again firmly established the fundamental principles of democracy—checks and balances. You have allowed Seoul to remain the last safeguard of democracy so that the Republic of Korea does not tip entirely to one side."

He added, "You, the citizens, have clearly demonstrated that no power can stand above the law, and no administration can stand above the people. I extend my deepest respect and gratitude to all Seoul citizens who have upheld the balance of democracy in the name of Seoul."

Later, in a meeting with reporters, Oh raised his voice in criticism of the Lee Jae-myung administration. He stated, "The most pressing issue in Seoul right now is real estate. A great number of ordinary citizens are experiencing severe hardship as the supply of jeonse (long-term rental) units has plummeted and monthly rents have soared. I am convinced that this is undoubtedly the consequence of real estate policies implemented during the election period with electoral considerations in mind. In this sense, now that the election is over, it is time for the government to consider and seek a change in direction."

He further said, "I will attend the first cabinet meeting of the new administration this week and sincerely convey the sentiments of the people to the President and relevant ministers. If there is no policy shift, I fear that an even more disastrous real estate crisis will occur in one or two years."

Regarding the Democratic Party's Special Prosecutor Act for Dismissing Prosecutions, Oh stated, "Before the election, it was the President who directly initiated the special prosecutor for dismissing prosecutions, and the Democratic Party responded by postponing its handling, but there was never a declaration of abandonment. I must clearly warn that the judgment of Seoul citizens on this issue is reflected in the Seoul election results. Even if the Democratic Party pushes it through, it would be the President's duty to exercise his veto for the sake of the people."

Oh also criticized the situation in which some areas of Seoul ran out of ballot papers. He said, "How can such major confusion occur in a democratic country simply because there were not enough ballot papers prepared? The National Election Commission must approach this with a determination to dismantle and rebuild itself from the ground up, and in that sense, both the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the President cannot avoid responsibility."

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