Oh Se-hoon, the Seoul mayor, said on the 20th, "If the People Power Party does not change into a party that a majority of the public can trust, there is no tomorrow," adding, "A central party–level innovation election committee is absolutely necessary."
That morning, Oh said on social media (SNS) under the title "Why speak of innovation now," "I made a heavy determination as I registered for nomination as a candidate for Seoul mayor," and said this.
Oh said, "I have continuously demanded that the party leadership demonstrate in action a 'break with the wrong past and a shift in line,'" adding, "But faced with the reality that nothing will change by merely waiting, I judged that it is now time to act."
He went on, "There is only one reason to speak of innovation: the restoration of checks and balances. Democracy stands on balance," adding, "Power is restrained only when it is checked, and only then does it turn to the lives of the people."
Oh also said, "What about Korea now? The moment the opposition fails to provide a check, the administration's power runs amok without brakes," adding, "To serve one president, they shake the judicial system and press ahead with dismissing indictments in cases involving the president, yet the National Assembly has become a bystander, not a watchdog."
He continued, "In a normal country, the opposition should stake everything and fight when faced with a grave issue that could shake the foundations of the state," adding, "But now we are seeing a strangely quiet politics and a lethargic opposition."
Oh said, "Why has this happened? Because the public is not giving strength," adding, "Politics must stand on the trust of the people. A political force shunned by the public cannot wield power no matter how right its words are."
He argued that at least a 6-to-4 balance must be achieved. Oh said, "The reality facing the People Power Party is cold," adding, "With support around 20%, it is difficult not only to check the administration but even to properly raise issues." He added, "The strength to check comes from numbers. At a minimum, a 6-to-4 balance is needed to stand up to power."
To that end, Oh urged the party to change. He said, "The answer is clear. The People Power Party must change," adding, "If it does not transform into a party that a majority of the public can trust, there is no tomorrow for us. Innovation first, election later must be the principle."
Oh said, "In the past, conservatives were not merely a force that seized power, but a responsible force that charted the nation's course, grew the economy, and stabilized social order," adding, "Rationality and common sense, responsibility and balance—this is the essence of conservatism we have upheld."
He went on, "What is needed now is a return to that essence," adding, "We must stand again as conservatives who solve real-world problems, not conservatives trapped in ideology; conservatives who embrace the public, not exclusive conservatives; conservatives who design the future, not conservatives stuck in the past."
Addressing the People Power Party, Oh stressed that a central party–level innovation election committee is essential. He added, "In this election, I want to create a starting point for conservative innovation that goes beyond a simple win or loss," and, "Seoul must be the model for that innovation. If conservatives regain trust in Seoul, the balance of Korean politics will also be restored."