Seoul mayor steps forward as conservatives seek unity

Fifth-term Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is signaling a broader political role after an appeals court acquitted him of political funding charges, easing a threat to his career.

Oh pledged Saturday to help unite Korea’s conservative opposition, a day after the ruling overturned a conviction that could have cost him his job. A fellow conservative heavyweight endorsed cooperation Sunday, adding to attention on Oh as a potential presidential contender.

“With the general election approaching, the People Power Party can offer reassurance to the public by showing unity rather than division,” Oh told reporters at the National Assembly, according to Yonhap News Agency.

He said he would do his utmost to bring people with differing views and political philosophies together.

Independent conservative lawmaker Han Dong-hoon described Oh on Sunday as highly reasonable and someone he should work with to secure victory for conservatives.

“We have never let go of each other’s hand,” Han said on KBS when asked about calls for the two to join forces to broaden conservative support. He welcomed Friday’s acquittal, saying he had argued that the lower court’s conviction needed to be overturned.

The ruling removes an immediate political burden for Oh, although the case is not final. The special counsel team said it would appeal to the Supreme Court.

Oh was reelected while standing trial over allegations that he arranged for a supporter to pay for opinion polls conducted on his behalf ahead of the 2021 mayoral by-election.

A lower court fined him 10 million won ($7,500) for violating the Political Funds Act. The Seoul High Court overturned the conviction Friday, finding political broker Myung Tae-kyun’s testimony unreliable and the remaining evidence insufficient to prove the charges.

The acquittal drew a sharply different response from Cho Kuk, head of the Rebuilding Korea Party’s policy institute, who portrayed it as a warning for the liberal camp.

In a Facebook post Sunday, Cho called the ruling a “scripted drama” and accused the judiciary of political intervention.

He argued that it had emboldened conservatives and criticized the ruling Democratic Party of Korea for allowing internal power struggles to squander an opportunity to pursue judicial reform and impeach Chief Justice Jo Hee-de.

Oh had rejected calls to impeach the chief justice in his Saturday remarks, urging restraint and respect for judicial independence.

His efforts to build ties across the conservative opposition predate the acquittal. On Oct. 7, he attended a housing forum co-chaired by People Power Party Rep. Cho Jung-hun and Reform Party Rep. Lee Jun-seok to discuss short-term housing supply measures.

Oh also led a Gallup Korea favorability survey of seven political figures released before the ruling on Oct. 16. His rating stood at 30 percent, followed by Rep. Han Dong-hoon at 23 percent. The poll measured personal favorability, not presidential voting preferences.

Despite the renewed attention to his political future, Oh has continued to emphasize his responsibilities as mayor. Asked Saturday about preparations for a possible presidential bid, he responded by outlining his plans for Seoul. His current four-year term began in July.