Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is widening his political footprint after an appeals court acquitted him in a case over allegedly having opinion poll costs paid on his behalf. He has pushed conservative unity and an opposition alliance while sharpening his differences with the Lee Jae-myung administration over housing policy. Han Dong-hoon, an independent lawmaker and potential opposition presidential contender, praised Oh as "someone we must move forward with for the conservative camp's victory," adding weight to the idea of a broad conservative alliance.
According to political circles on the 25th, Oh told reporters asking about his future role in the party on the 24th, a day after his acquittal, at a sports event for photojournalists and their families held at the National Assembly grounds: "The general election is now approaching." He said, "The People Power Party will offer comfort to the public when it appears united and integrated rather than divided." He added, "I will do my best to bring together the hearts of those whose thinking is somewhat different and whose philosophy is different."
Analysts say Oh, freed from legal risk, is moving to strengthen his standing within the party by putting unity first. The aim is to widen contacts with moderates and non-mainstream figures in the party, embrace rational conservatives and secure the initiative in rebuilding the conservative movement. Underlying the move is a judgment that broadening the party's appeal is essential to winning the 2028 general election and regaining power in 2030. Within the party, figures outside the leadership faction have called on Oh to take on a role in rebuilding conservatism, citing concerns that the leadership under Chairman Jang Dong-hyuk, tilted toward rallying hard-line supporters, has limits in expanding into the political center and cannot guarantee election victory.
One three-term People Power Party lawmaker said, "Everyone, without exception, must build a melting pot and transform quickly," adding, "The golden time is passing while Chairman Jang stalls." A first-term lawmaker said, "Oh has found it difficult to meet other figures because he was constrained by legal risk, but this ruling is likely to lead him to increase contacts with a variety of figures."
Oh is expected to broaden his political footprint by building a record in city government on livelihood issues such as housing. Having proven his competitiveness in the June 3 local elections by differentiating his housing policy from that of the government and the ruling party, he is expected to focus on easing public frustration over unstable home prices and building an independent political base, analysts said. Oh described the Seoul property market as a "triple rally in which sale prices, jeonse (a lump-sum deposit lease) and monthly rents are all rising together," and criticized the government, saying, "I have repeatedly recommended to the government that it change the current policy direction, which places excessive emphasis on owner-occupancy, but it has fallen on deaf ears."
Inside and outside the People Power Party, observers expect Oh's influence to be a variable in the formation of the next leadership next year. Because Oh, as the sitting Seoul mayor, cannot easily enter the race for the party leadership directly, there is speculation that figures close to him could push for a change in leadership and a shift in direction. The next party leader will hold nomination powers for the 2028 general election and will shape the party's direction and personnel renewal. One People Power Party lawmaker from a Seoul district said, "I believe more than half of the elections in the greater Seoul area come down to housing issues," predicting, "Next spring, a year before the general election, movements in each district will begin in earnest and calls for party reform will grow louder."
Han, who along with Oh is considered a leading conservative presidential contender, also extended a hand to Oh and highlighted the case for an alliance. On KBS's "Sunday Diagnosis" that day, he called Oh "a very reasonable person" and "someone we must join forces with and move forward with for the conservative camp's victory." Asked about the argument that the two should join hands to expand the conservative base, Han said, "We have never let go of each other's hand." A lawmaker close to Han said, "Whether it is Mayor Oh or Representative Han, it cannot work without expanding into the center," adding, "It will take the form of an alliance between reform-minded figures and moderates among the pro-Yoon Suk-yeol old guard."