Seoul mayor snubs PPP primary again, fueling leadership speculation

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon cheers on participants during the 2026 Seoul Marathon at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, Sunday. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has twice refused to register as a candidate for the People Power Party's (PPP) Seoul mayoral primary, even as the main opposition party extended its registration deadline for a third time on Monday in an apparent bid to draw the incumbent into the race.

The unusual standoff has fueled speculation that the mayor’s decision may be part of a broader political calculation rather than a simple disagreement over the party’s nomination process.

Oh said he will not file for candidacy unless the party first commits to meaningful reform and clarifies its political direction before asking contenders to enter the race.

The PPP’s nomination committee reopened the registration window again and set Tuesday as the latest deadline for candidates to apply, with interviews scheduled for Friday. The repeated extensions were widely interpreted as an attempt to pressure Oh into participating.

The move came shortly after Lee Jung-hyun returned as chair of the party’s nomination committee, just two days after announcing his resignation. Lee publicly called on Oh to take part in the primary, describing the incumbent mayor as one of the party’s most valuable political assets.

Despite mounting pressure, Oh has maintained that he will not register unless the party shows a genuine commitment to reform, calling for personnel changes and the creation of what he described as a reform-oriented election leadership structure.

Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the People Power Party, listens to remarks by Supreme Council members during a party leadership meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

Political commentator Park Chang-hwan said Oh's stance should be understood in the context of the PPP's difficult political environment ahead of the June 3 local elections. The party continues to grapple with the fallout from former President Yoon Suk Yeol's December 2024 martial law crisis, a legacy that shadows its electoral prospects not only in Seoul but across several key regions, even as the now-opposition party works to distance itself from Yoon.

“In the current political climate, the Seoul mayoral race is likely to be an extremely difficult contest for the party,” Park said. “In a situation like this, entering the race and losing could inflict serious political damage. From that perspective, it may be a strategic choice to seek other political opportunities rather than step directly into a losing battle.”

Park described the mayor’s move as a high-risk gamble made under unfavorable conditions. “Entering the election and suffering defeat could weaken Oh’s political standing, whereas delaying the decision would allow him to expand his political options within the party,” he said.

He also suggested that the strategy could position Oh for a larger role in the party’s future leadership.

“Even if he ultimately decides not to run for mayor, he could still raise his profile inside the party and potentially move toward a future leadership contest,” he said.

The debate escalated after former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo launched a sharp criticism of Oh on social media.

“Looks like he is trying to create a justification for not running and then seek the party leadership after a local election defeat,” Hong wrote.

He added that “style-over-substance politics tends to retreat when things get tough.”

Oh’s allies, however, maintain that the mayor’s stance is not about personal political gain, but about forcing the party to address internal problems before the election campaign begins.

They say Oh believes the party must first demonstrate a clear commitment to reform before asking candidates to enter what could be a difficult race.

So far, only a handful of candidates have officially registered for the PPP primary, including former Innovation Committee Chair Yoon Hee-suk, PPP district leader Lee Sang-kyu and businessman Lee Seung-hyeon, CEO of electronic components maker INPAQ Korea.

With the deadline approaching, political attention is now focused on whether Oh will ultimately enter the race or continue his boycott.