Oh Se-hoon Says Jang's Claims Are Out of Touch with Public Sentiment, Warns Against a 'Yoon Again' Politics

According to Financial News, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon on the 20th criticized People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk, saying, "Politics that remains at the level of the 'Yoon Again' slogan cannot persuade moderates and younger generations." His remarks targeted Jang for rejecting calls to break with former president Yoon Suk Yeol after Yoon was sentenced to life imprisonment in the first trial on charges of leading an insurrection, while insisting the presumption of innocence should apply.
Oh stated on social media (SNS) that he "could not help but feel deep concern" after reading the party leader's statement released earlier in the day.
He argued, "The People Power Party is not a party built on the political line of a particular individual," adding, "It is a major party that has led both industrialization and democratization in the Republic of Korea, and the core of the conservative camp that has upheld the values of freedom and responsibility."
Oh took issue with Jang's claim that the formula "martial law automatically amounts to insurrection" does not hold, that the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) has no authority to investigate insurrection, and that some in the legal academy support this view. Oh pointed out, "It is not appropriate to present the arguments of a segment of academia as if they were the official position of the entire party."
He went on, "The presumption of innocence cannot serve as a kind of political immunity," stressing, "Regardless of the legal judgment, it is politics that must show a sense of responsibility before the people. Taking responsibility for the outcome — that is the essence of conservative politics."
Earlier that day, Jang had rejected demands that he apologize for the declaration of martial law and sever ties with former president Yoon and his supporters, saying, "I have already issued several statements of apology and of breaking with the past, and we have continued efforts at change and reform accordingly." In response, Oh urged, "However, we must soberly ask whether there has been any change the public can truly feel," and added, "We must reflect on whether this has appeared not as a severance, but as a declaration of yet another rallying of forces."
Oh also interpreted Jang's appeal — "I earnestly ask all patriotic citizens who are fighting alongside us" — as sounding like a declaration of solidarity with the "Yoon Again" camp. He wrote, "The conservative camp must broaden its base," and warned, "By stubbornly repeating arguments that are out of step with the sentiments of the vast majority of citizens, we cannot win the people's affection and support."
He concluded, "If the conservative camp loses its way, the central axis of the Republic of Korea will collapse. Conservatism must be not the shield of a particular individual, but the safety valve of the nation," adding, "I will work to bring together responsible voices so that the conservative camp can return to a normal course. I will seek a path of reconstruction, not division."
haeram@fnnews.com Lee Hae-ram Reporter