'Survival' Oh, 'Longest-Serving' Jang, 'Growing Profile' Han... Conservative Power Struggle in Focus

Oh Emerges as Rallying Point for Party Outsiders as Legal Cloud Lifts
Jang Faces Challenge of Broadening Appeal; Han Weighs Cooperation and Competition
Talk of a Broad Conservative Alliance... Yoo Seung-min: "We Must Win the General Election First"

The Seoul High Court's acquittal of Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon on appeal in his political funds law violation case has opened a new chapter in the conservative camp's struggle for leadership. Attention is focused on whether Mayor Oh will emerge as a new rallying point for the non-establishment faction, between People Power Party leader Jang Donghyeok, who holds the party reins, and independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon, who has been building his profile outside the party.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon speaks to reporters outside the Seoul High Court after the appellate court's ruling on the 23rd. Photo courtesy of Yonhap News.

Oh Se-hoon Emphasizes "Conservative Unity"... Building an Intra-Party Base Is Key

Since his acquittal on appeal, Mayor Oh has been making the case for conservative unity a central theme. On October 24, the day after the ruling, he attended an event at the National Assembly and said, "The People Power Party should become a party that presents alternatives with a united front."

Mayor Oh's strength lies in the symbolism of being a five-term mayor. His influence has also grown following his political comeback. Assemblyman Yoon Sang-hyun appeared on SBS's "Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show" and said, "(Mayor Oh) has positioned himself in the presidential race earlier than anyone else," adding that he is "a strategic asset and rallying point who can demonstrate the party's competitiveness among moderates and in the Seoul metropolitan area, both of which are weaknesses for the party."

His weakness is a limited foothold in the National Assembly. Assembly members Cho Eun-hee, Kwon Young-jin, and Kim Jae-seop are considered close to Mayor Oh, but it is difficult to say that they have formed a clear faction. Analysts say the key question is how many lawmakers who are dissatisfied with the Jang leadership but also keep their distance from Assemblyman Han he can bring into his camp.

Still, it is noteworthy that Mayor Oh's political standing has grown following his comeback. On the day of the ruling, numerous incumbent lawmakers, including Yoon Sang-hyun, Kim Seok-ki, Shin Seong-beom, Lee Man-hee, Kim Mi-ae, Kwon Young-jin, and Cho Jung-hoon, as well as former New Reform Party leader Lee Jun-seok, gathered outside the Seoul High Court. Mayor Oh is scheduled to meet them for dinner starting that day.

There is also interest in how Mayor Oh will strengthen his ties within the party. During the 9th nationwide local elections, Jang Donghyeok's leadership had kept its distance from him. Even immediately after the acquittal, he communicated with floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik rather than party leader Jang. He appears to be keeping channels of communication with the party's lawmakers open while focusing on running Seoul.

Jang Donghyeok Holds the Party Reins and Faces a Test of His Appeal

People Power Party leader Jang Donghyeok speaks at the “Muzzling Act All-Out Struggle Resolution Rally” held at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building on the 23rd. Photo by Yoon Dongju

As of October 25, Jang became the party's longest-serving leader. He now faces the task of strengthening his control over the party while proving his ability to broaden its appeal. That is because, ahead of next year's party convention, Mayor Oh could serve as a rallying point for the non-establishment faction by appealing to moderates, residents of the Seoul metropolitan area, and young people.

Jang is first expected to keep leading efforts to address the "ballot paper shortage" issue, with the aim of maintaining the support of the party's hard-line base. At the same time, he is likely to focus on public livelihood and policy issues, including real estate and challenges facing young people.

At a Supreme Council meeting that day, Jang referred to this year's 820 trillion won super-budget proposal and said, "During the budget review, we will cut wasteful spending and come up with alternatives that will help the economy and people's livelihoods."

If the non-establishment faction uses Mayor Oh as its rallying point to call for a shift in the party's direction, a major clash will be unavoidable. However, some observers believe that the two are unlikely to confront each other directly in the near term. Mayor Oh has a responsibility to run Seoul, rather than focus on national politics for now.

For this reason, the expectation is that he will coordinate with the party leadership in its fight against the ruling party for the time being, while speaking out more forcefully on the party's direction and election strategy as the general election approaches.

An Alliance Between Han Dong-hoon and Oh Se-hoon? A Presidential Contest Is Inevitable

Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon asks a question during the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee's parliamentary audit on the 7th. Photo provided by Yonhap News Agency.

For Assemblyman Han, Mayor Oh is both a rival and a potential partner. They may be able to work together to keep Jang in check and promote conservative unity, but they are unlikely to avoid competing over who represents the moderate and reform-minded conservative camp and over the next presidential race. Their support bases overlap, further complicating the political calculations.

Assemblyman Han appeared on KBS's "Sunday Diagnosis" on October 25 and, when asked about the possibility of an alliance with Mayor Oh, said, "We have never stopped reaching out." He added, "I think Mayor Oh is very reasonable and that he is someone with whom we should join forces and move forward to help the conservative camp win."

Mayor Oh's rise could also affect discussions about Assemblyman Han's return to the party. If calls for conservative unity grow, they could give momentum to discussions about his return. However, there are also concerns that if the party's non-establishment faction rallies around Mayor Oh, Assemblyman Han's position as an "alternative candidate" could weaken further.

The relationship between the two is also expected to affect discussions about cooperation among conservative figures who have kept their distance from the Jang leadership, including former party leader Lee Jun-seok and former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min.

Yoo appeared on YTN Radio's "News Myeongdang" that day and said, "Let's not think about the 2030 presidential election for now. First, let's win the upcoming 2028 general election, and then each of us can compete." He added, "Until then, we should refrain from criticizing and attacking each other, and conservative politicians should unite."

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