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Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon delivers a lecture on "Analyzing the June 3 Local Elections and Future Tasks: Restoring Conservative Values and the Future" during the 9th seminar of the Korea Future Innovation Forum at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 24th. / Courtesy of Reporter Lee Byung-hwa

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon visited the National Assembly for the first time since his victory in the June 3 local elections, questioning the necessity of a party leader in a move widely interpreted as a direct jab at People Power Party (PPP) leader Chang Dong-hyeok, who is currently mired in a controversy over his leadership position. The move is viewed as an effort by the mayor to expand his presence as a leading conservative presidential contender while solidifying his support base within the parliament.

According to political sources on the 24th, Mayor Oh attended a seminar titled "Restoring Conservative Values and the Future," hosted by the Korea Future Innovation Forum at the National Assembly Members' Office Building, where he featured as the keynote speaker. The event drew about 30 PPP lawmakers, including Floor Leader Jeong Jeom-sig.

During his speech, Oh raised critical concerns about the party's leader-centric organizational structure, emphasizing the need to transition toward a floor-centered party system instead. "South Korea is an over-politicized society," Oh remarked. "Because the party leader intervenes in every single social issue, political infighting has become part of daily life."

He went on to ask, "Is a party leader even necessary? A floor leader is more than capable of running the party." He added, "Shifting to a floor-centered system is the only way to minimize unnecessary conflicts." Political insiders interpret these remarks as an indirect critique of the ongoing internal friction surrounding Chairman Chang's future leadership role.

"We have fallen into a political climate where those who fight aggressively gain political advantages and survive longer," Oh pointed out. "Even if we are pushed hard by the ruling party as the opposition, presenting ourselves to the public simply as 'skilled fighters' is embarrassing to even face our children."

Regarding the discussions on party reform following the local elections, Oh urged caution. "Nothing good comes from rushing," he stressed. "We don't have an election right around the corner, so pushing for changes and innovations that cause unnecessary side effects is certainly not what our party lawmakers desire."

As a roadmap for rebuilding the conservative bloc, Oh proposed four core pillars: sincerity, inclusivity, competence, and trust. "If we fail to win back the public's trust through sincerity, inclusivity centered on walking alongside the marginalized, and genuine competence, it will be incredibly difficult for us to secure favorable results to reclaim power in the next general and presidential elections."

Oh's recent activities have increasingly focused on broadening his touchpoints with the National Assembly. While his local election victory boosted his standing as a heavyweight presidential hopeful for the conservative camp, his legislative support base has long been considered a relative weak point. Analysts note that he is now working to widen his political footprint by expanding engagements with active lawmakers.

Ever since leaving the parliament after the 16th National Assembly elections in 2000, Oh has been seen as having limited connections with sitting lawmakers. Even during his lecture, he acknowledged this perception, saying, "Since it has been quite a while since I left Yeouido, people often say I lack sufficient rapport with members within the party."

                                                                                                         Kim Dong-wook