Oh Se-hoon launches bid as Seoul enters acting system

Apr 27, 2026, 11:06 am

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Oh Se-hoon introduces a model of the Seoul Arena ahead of a press briefing on the “K-Entertainment Town in Chang-dong” project at Seoul City Hall on April 21.

Oh Se-hoon officially registered as a preliminary candidate for the upcoming local elections on April 27, triggering a transition to an acting leadership system within the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

Under South Korea’s Local Autonomy Act, a sitting metropolitan mayor must transfer authority to a deputy upon registering as a candidate for the same office. As a result, Kim Sung-bo, the second administrative vice mayor, has assumed the role of acting mayor.

Kim will carry out all mayoral duties for 38 days, from April 27 until the election on June 3. Oh is expected to resume his official duties at midnight on June 4, the day after the election.

Kim is a veteran public official specializing in urban development and housing policy. Since entering public service in 1997, he has held key positions including director of urban redevelopment, head of housing planning, and chief of disaster and safety management before being appointed second vice mayor in February last year.

Ahead of the transition, Oh urged city officials to maintain strict political neutrality and ensure stable governance during the interim period.

Meanwhile, political vice mayor Kim Byung-min has stepped down to join Oh’s campaign team. The city has nominated Park Chan-gu, a senior political adviser, as the new political vice mayor.

Oh is seeking a fifth term in office, positioning his campaign around improving quality of life in Seoul. His campaign office will be located in Gwancheol-dong, Jongno District, a move interpreted as emphasizing both urban regeneration and a return to his original political vision.

Building on the current administration’s slogan of a “Companion and Attractive City,” Oh plans to present a new campaign message: “A healthier and warmer city with a higher quality of life.”

His campaign is expected to focus on youth engagement, with young people playing a central role in planning and leading campaign activities.

#Oh Se-hoon #Seoul mayor #local elections #acting mayor #Kim Sung-bo