Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon stated that while maintaining relationships with supporters of former President Yoon Suk Yeol is necessary, he is open to forming alliances with independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon and Reform Party leader Lee Jun-seok.

In an interview with the major Japanese daily Yomiuri Shimbun, Mayor Oh assessed that "former President Yoon put conservatism in crisis by making wrong political judgments," while adding that "the public does not reject conservatism itself."

He emphasized, "For conservatism to regain public trust, three things are needed: sincerity, inclusion, and competence," adding that "we must reach out to the socially vulnerable and build a foundation for sustainable growth."

He expressed confidence, stating, "If we demonstrate the ability to continuously improve the quality of life for the public through tangible results, conservatism can once again become a source of hope for the people."

When asked by the reporter whether party unity or expanding to the center is more important for rebuilding conservatism, Mayor Oh replied, "Both are important. A political party needs a base of core supporters, but elections are ultimately a competition over how many swing voters and moderates you can secure."

Asked whether he should maintain ties with those who support former President Yoon, Mayor Oh said, "We must maintain those relationships," adding, "What we must break away from is former President Yoon's misguided political judgments."

Regarding the possibility of an alliance with independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon and Reform Party leader Lee Jun-seok, Mayor Oh said, "I will join forces with those who share my political thoughts."

On the question of whether he will run for president in 2030, Mayor Oh replied, "I have been mentioned as a presidential candidate since I was first elected mayor of Seoul in 2006. The possibility is always there."

However, he added, "That depends on the political situation at that time (in 2030). The most important thing right now is to achieve results worthy of a fifth-term mayor. If my administrative achievements are recognized as contributing significantly to the future of the party, a support group within the party will naturally form."

Mayor Oh also continued his criticism of the ruling party and President Lee Jae-myung.

In particular, regarding the ruling party's push for a special counsel bill to cancel the indictment of President Lee Jae-myung, he argued, "If they play a card that should not be played, they will lose political influence and it will have a negative impact on the next general election in 2028."

He also criticized the real estate policies of the Lee Jae-myung administration, saying, "I cannot agree with policies that simultaneously raise holding and transaction taxes while significantly restricting mortgage loans. Such policies risk causing side effects like rising jeonse deposits and monthly rents."

Mayor Oh identified "reaching out to those alienated during the economic development process to realize sustainable growth" and "expanding housing supply" as the policies he will focus on during his new term.

He emphasized, "To stabilize the real estate market, the urgent task is to supply high-quality housing quickly."

Regarding South Korea-Japan and South Korea-U.S.-Japan relations, he assessed that "the Lee Jae-myung administration is managing well the relationships that were greatly improved under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration," and stated, "South Korea and Japan should cooperate and communicate closely not only at the national level but also between their capital cities."

Reporting on the interview, the Yomiuri Shimbun noted, "Mayor Oh is considered a leading politician who, along with former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon—who was expelled in January this year following conflict with party leader Jang and elected as an independent in the June parliamentary by-election—is raising expectations for the reconstruction of conservatism."

The newspaper also pointed out, "Mayor Oh has shown a critical stance from the beginning regarding former President Yoon's declaration of martial law in 2024," and added, "He did not receive support from party leader Jang Dong-hyeok, who is close to the former president, during the Seoul mayoral election."

The newspaper explained, "Seoul is the center of politics and economy with a population of approximately 9.3 million (as of 2025). The position of mayor of Seoul is a stepping stone to challenging for the next presidency if one can showcase administrative achievements; former President Lee Myung-bak also rose to the presidency after serving as mayor of Seoul."

Founded in 1874, the Yomiuri Shimbun is the most widely circulated newspaper in Japan, with a daily circulation of approximately 5.25 million, and is classified as having a conservative stance.

Following the publication of the Yomiuri interview, the Seoul Metropolitan Government issued a notice to the press to elaborate on Mayor Oh's response regarding maintaining ties with former President Yoon's support base.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government explained, "The core of the answer was to emphasize the necessity of pan-conservative integration. However, the intent is that such integration must take place while completely breaking away from former President Yoon's misguided political judgments, such as the emergency martial law, and that pan-conservative forces must join together."

(Photo: Provided by Seoul Metropolitan Government, Yonhap News)