Seoul’s Mayor Oh Eyes Third Term: Is the Public Ready for More?

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon indicated he is willing to seek a third consecutive term in next year’s local elections, saying he will “work even harder” during his remaining time and “wait for the public’s judgment.”

At a press briefing marking the completion of his third year in office, Oh stated that his desire to continue serving as Seoul’s mayor has “grown stronger” as he has gained more insight and experience.

“The more I work, the more I see what needs to be done — things that weren’t noticeable before are coming into view, and I find myself growing more eager to take on new challenges,” Oh said. “With that in mind, I plan to do my best for the remainder of my term and await the people’s evaluation.”

Oh was elected as Seoul’s mayor in a special election in 2021 and reelected in 2022. This is his fourth term as mayor, following previous wins in 2006 and 2010. The next local elections, held every four years for governors, metropolitan and municipal mayors, and provincial and municipal legislatures, are scheduled for June 3, 2026.

When asked about his assessment of public opinion on his leadership, Oh emphasized the city’s housing and transportation policies.

“In terms of housing, I’m confident we’ve made significant changes and have been diligent in preparing for the city’s future,” Oh said. Reflecting on the past decade, he described it as a “dark age” for new housing development, citing stalled redevelopment projects and limited supply.

Referring to new urban planning initiatives undertaken by the city government, Oh noted that they had secured a “number of houses” for those seeking to settle down. “Now it’s time to ramp up our efforts,” he added.

On transportation, Oh highlighted the success of the city’s Climate Card initiative, a monthly transit pass offering unlimited travel on all public transportation within Seoul.

“The Climate Card has become very popular among Seoul residents. We’ve heard that many people believe their lives have greatly improved thanks to this policy, and we’ve received much positive feedback,” Oh said. “Based on these evaluations, we’ll watch to see what kind of response the public provides.”

While Oh stopped short of confirming his candidacy, he strongly hinted at his intention to run for a third term.

“With one year left in my term, the phrase ‘wrap it up’ is what I fear most,” the Seoul mayor added. “From now on, it will be a time for more intense policy execution and taking on greater challenges. I will work to continue the changes I started with the people of Seoul to bring about greater and concrete results.”

Oh also touched on his decision not to run in last month’s presidential election, which was necessitated by the impeachment and removal of Yoon Suk Yeol, calling it a “difficult but necessary choice.”

“It would be dishonest to say I had no regrets,” he admitted. “But I had serious doubts about whether my candidacy at that time would help the ruling party truly reflect on its mistakes.”

Commenting on internal strife within the People Power Party, Oh pointed to declining approval ratings and criticized the party’s inability to act on widely recognized issues.

“Everyone knows how the party must change, but no one seems to have the power to make it happen,” he said. “Looking at the mainstream behavior within the party is deeply disappointing.”