Seoul:Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is on a clear path to a potential presidential run following an appellate court's decision to overturn his previous conviction and acquit him of corruption charges. The case was closely monitored by both the ruling and opposition parties as it had significant implications for the upcoming presidential race.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Oh, who secured his fifth term as mayor in June's local elections, is seen as a strong candidate within the conservative People Power Party (PPP) to challenge President Lee Jae Myung's liberal Democratic Party (DP) in the 2030 presidential election. The appellate court's ruling removed a significant obstacle that could have ended his political career if a substantial fine or punishment had been upheld.
The corruption charges against Oh involved allegations that he had a supporter pay for opinion polls before his 2021 election. A lower court had previously found him partially guilty and imposed a 10 million-won fine. However, the Seoul High Court's recent decision found the evidence insufficient to uphold the conviction. Although the special counsel team plans to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court, the likelihood of a reversal is considered low.
Oh has been a prominent critic of the Lee administration, particularly on housing policies, which have been a contentious issue and contributed to the president's declining approval ratings. Oh's victory in the June elections was seen by some as a public rebuke of the administration's approach.
Following the court's decision, Oh's influence within the PPP is expected to grow, with potential implications for party leadership dynamics. His increased standing could challenge current PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok, who has faced criticism for maintaining ties with former President Yoon Suk Yeol amidst internal party disputes.
Meanwhile, independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon, a former PPP leader and another potential conservative presidential candidate, might benefit from aligning with Oh to reshape the party's leadership. The DP, on the other hand, expressed dissatisfaction with the verdict, with senior spokesperson Park Sung-joon labeling it as contrary to common sense and advocating for judicial reform.