Packed Schedule Begins Day After Acquittal... Oh Sehoon: "General Election Is Approaching; I'll Help Unite the People Power Party"

Calls for restraint over calls from some in ruling bloc to impeach Cho Hee-dae
"Urges shift in real estate policy... government turns a deaf ear"
Attends Buddhist ceremony at Jingwansa, then Itaewon tragedy fourth-anniversary event

A day after being acquitted on appeal of violating the Political Funds Act, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said he would play a role in fostering unity and solidarity within the People Power Party.

Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon speaks about the acquittal after the appellate court delivered its verdict in the case involving alleged payments for opinion polls on behalf of Myung Taekyun, at Seoul High Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 23rd. Yonhap News Agency.

Speaking to reporters at the “2026 Photojournalists’ Family Sports Day” held on the National Assembly grounds on October 24, Mayor Oh was asked about his future role in the party. “The general election is approaching,” he said. “The People Power Party will bring comfort to the public when it presents a united and unified front rather than appearing divided.”

“The Lee Jae-myung government is causing the public considerable concern over many issues, including real estate,” he said, emphasizing that “the People Power Party must become a party that offers alternatives with a united front.” He added, “To achieve that, I will do my utmost to bring together people whose views and philosophies differ somewhat.”

As hard-liners within the Democratic Party of Korea and some figures in the broader ruling bloc, including the Rebuilding Korea Party, stepped up calls to impeach Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae over Mayor Oh’s acquittal on appeal on charges of violating the Political Funds Act, he called for “restraint from the ruling party.” Mayor Oh said, “Remarks are being made frequently that seem to mistake elected power as standing above the three branches of government.” He criticized them as “truly reckless statements that have no place in any constitutional law textbook.” He emphasized, “The foundations of the separation of powers, a basic principle of democracy, will be strengthened when judicial independence is truly achieved.”

He also criticized the government’s real estate policies. “Rising sale prices are a problem, but low-income households and vulnerable groups are also saying they are suffering because of the ‘triple surge’ in jeonse and monthly rent prices,” he said. “The solution is to change policies that excessively compel people to live in the homes they own, but the government turns a deaf ear no matter how many times I urge it to act.”

Asked what long-term preparations he would make as a leading presidential hopeful, Mayor Oh replied, “I will definitely make Seoul a special city for quality of life,” saying he would focus for now on the pressing affairs of the Seoul city government.

After being acquitted on appeal the previous day of violating the Political Funds Act, Mayor Oh began a packed schedule on October 24. He attended the “Gukhaeng Suryukjae” ceremony at Jingwansa Temple in Eunpyeong-gu, where he prayed for a world in which all life is respected and coexists peacefully. In the evening, he will attend a memorial ceremony marking the fourth anniversary of the Itaewon tragedy to honor the victims and comfort their bereaved families. He is also scheduled to attend a ceremony at the Garden of Gratitude in Gwanghwamun Square commemorating Sweden’s donation of stone.

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