Oh Se-hoon's side said Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, calling it "a new form of pressure demanding their own conclusion from the court" after he said "there is a 99.99% chance of a Seoul mayoral by-election next year."
On the 10th, Lee Jong-hyun, Seoul's special adviser for public livelihood communication, issued a statement titled "Does the Democratic Party recognize the judiciary as one pillar of the separation of powers?" and said, "Kim Min-seok, the Democratic Party leader, after his 'Jo Hee-de' gaffe, has once again made remarks belittling the judiciary," stated accordingly.
Lee said, "The appeal trial for the Seoul mayor has just begun, yet he virtually predetermined the outcome by saying '99.99% by-election,'" adding, "Are you instructing the judiciary in an ongoing trial to deliver this conclusion?"
He added, "Does the Democratic Party not recognize the judiciary as one pillar of the separation of powers?" and "Or does the Democratic Party think it can stand above the three branches and direct them?"
Lee also said, "With instability in the real estate market and difficulties in people's livelihoods continuing, treating a Seoul mayoral by-election as a fait accompli and shaking stable city governance is irresponsible behavior for the ruling party leader," adding, "The grave governance of Seoul, responsible for the lives of 10 million citizens, is not something that can be swayed by the Democratic Party's electoral arithmetic."
He continued, "The Seoul mayor is devoted to people's livelihoods and city administration, and Seoul city officials are working for citizens without wavering," adding, "The Seoul mayor's post is not something decided in the Democratic Party leader's notebook."