Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor, held a campaign kickoff rally around Gwanghwamun in Seoul on the afternoon of the 21st. He then visited Gangnam Station to meet residents and canvass, wrapping up the first day of official campaigning.
At 7 p.m. that day, candidate Oh held a campaign kickoff rally at Cheonggye Plaza in Jung District, Seoul. Eight incumbent lawmakers from the People Power Party and local party chapter heads in Seoul attended and appealed for support for Oh.
Bae Hyun-jin of the People Power Party, who attended, said, "Seoul has no time to practice," and added, "Between a former mayor who showed proficiency over four terms and a novice who gets uneasy on policy sites without a paper because the person does not know their own ability, which one will Seoul residents entrust with our tomorrow?"
She went on to say, "Seoul is now No. 6 in the world," adding, "This global city needs not just any run-of-the-mill metropolitan chief but someone who can secure budgets through various negotiations with the central government and who knows how to coordinate with various interest groups—a weighty post."
Former lawmaker Yoo Seong-min said, "The core of South Korea's real estate problem is Seoul, but candidate Chong Won-o will not pursue redevelopment or reconstruction," adding, "Even if the president tightens lending, slaps taxes, and halts maintenance projects, this is someone who will keep the mouth shut."
A person surnamed Lee (23), who identified as a college student living in Guro District, Seoul, also gave a speech supporting Oh at the rally. Lee said, "On the 30-minute subway ride here today, I wondered, 'Who installed all these many platform screen doors?' I looked it up and it was Mayor Oh Se-hoon," adding, "The mayor's policies are ones that residents can use directly and feel directly."
After hearing the support speeches, candidate Oh said, "Today I ran a whirlwind loop around all of Seoul," adding, "Holding hands on site, I heard, 'Please win and solve the real estate problem,' and I gained confidence that we will stop the government's runaway drive."
He continued, "I have a dream to raise Seoul's global rankings for quality of life and urban competitiveness to No. 3, but the capital of South Korea, Seoul, is now hobbled by the dwellings issue," adding, "Residents, the owners of Seoul, the capital of South Korea vying for No. 3 in the world, are about to fall into a painful state where their wallets get thinner as housing costs rise."
He added, "Please give me just four more years," and said, "I will make Seoul a No. 3 city in the world, standing shoulder to shoulder with Paris, London and New York."