Ruling party contenders eye presidential election runs

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon answers questions during a press briefing at Seoul City Hall, Wednesday. Yonhap Seoul mayor, former lawmaker, hint at bids for top office as Yoon's impeachment looms By Jung Da-hyun Members of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) are signaling their intentions to run in the next presidential election, as President Yoon Suk Yeol faces an impeachment trial following his attempt to impose martial law on Dec. 3 last year.

While no politician has formally announced their candidacy amid the ongoing impeachment trial of the president, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and former lawmaker Yoo Seong-min have hinted at the possibility of running should an early election be held. During a press briefing on Wednesday, Oh said it was "too early" to discuss the possibility of running in the next presidential election, citing the uncertainty surrounding Yoon’s impeachment trial. "Under these circumstances, it is too early to say whether I will run for president, as the final ruling has yet to be made," Oh said.



However, he left the door open, emphasizing his experience as a four-term mayor. "My experiences, forged through various trials and errors, aren't just personal. They're a public asset," he said.

"I believe these experiences hold great potential for the future." Oh has faced several challenges during his political career. One of the most significant was in 2011 when he resigned as Seoul mayor after a failed referendum on free school lunches, which led to public backlash.

If the Constitutional Court upholds Yoon’s impeachment motion, he will be immediately removed from office and a snap presidential election will be held later this year. Regarding the qualifications for a presidential candidate, Oh emphasized the importance of experience gained through trial and error, humility, and a commitment to continuously studying the future challenges facing the country — traits strikingly reminiscent of his own track record. Yoo Seong-min, former lawmaker and a member of the ruling People Power Party speaks during a discussion session hosted by Journalists Association of Korea at the Korea Press Center in central Seoul, Oct.

12, 2021. Joint Press Corps Yoo, also a member of the PPP, discussed the possibility of a presidential bid, emphasizing the need for a strong candidate to challenge Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). The former leader of the conservative Bareun Party, Yoo was also the presidential candidate for the minor party founded in 2017.

The party was formed by 33 lawmakers who broke away from the larger conservative Liberty Korea Party, the predecessor of today’s ruling People Power Party, following the impeachment of then-President Park Geun-hye. He is recognized as a reformist within the conservative establishment. "I need to be the candidate to defeat Lee," Yoo said in a YouTube interview with a Korean broadcasting company on Wednesday.

He acknowledged his long-held presidential aspirations, saying, "I've always dreamed of running for president, and I haven't given up on that ambition." However, he added that any formal announcement should wait until after the Constitutional Court delivers its ruling on Yoon’s impeachment. "While opposition figures may declare their bids before the impeachment ruling, members of the ruling party should not," Yoo said.

He also stressed that he fully understands the risks the country would face if Lee became the DPK’s presidential candidate and won the election. Both Oh and Yoo criticized the current political turmoil in Korea, following Yoon’s failed martial law declaration. They also expressed concerns over the recent rise in the ruling party's approval ratings.

Oh described the surge in support as "poison" for the party, warning that gains made from the opponent's mistakes are not sustainable in the long term. "I urge the party to exercise self-restraint and self-discipline," he said. Yoo echoed similar concerns, cautioning against complacency.

"If we look at the polls and believe the PPP is headed in the right direction, there is no path more dangerous than that," he said. The 21st presidential election in Korea is expected to be held in late April if a decision on Yoon’s impeachment is reached by the end of February. If the ruling is made by mid-March, the election will be scheduled for mid-May.

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