Yoon Sang-hyun: “Oh Se-hoon is the strongest presidential contender; Jang Dong-hyuk, Han Dong-hoon and Lee Jun-seok must unite”

[Financial News] After Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon was acquitted in the second trial of the case involving allegations of proxy payment for Myung Tae-kyun’s polling expenses on the 26th, People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun described him as “the person who has established himself earliest in the 2030 presidential race.” He said that conservative parties need “grand conservative unity,” bringing together Oh, People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk, independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon and Reform Party lawmaker Lee Jun-seok, to retake power.
Appearing on SBS’s “Kim Tae-hyun’s Political Show” that day, Yoon described Oh as “a strategic asset who can demonstrate competitiveness among moderate voters and in the Seoul metropolitan area, where support for the People Power Party is weak,” adding that it was “very positive to have a solid focal point.”
Yoon predicted that Oh’s acquittal in the second trial had made him a leading conservative opposition contender for the 2030 presidential election. Presidential hopefuls who are sitting lawmakers face the task of winning the 2028 general election, but Oh is the incumbent Seoul mayor and will not have to run in an election before the presidential election. In that respect, Yoon’s remarks appeared to express agreement with People Power Party lawmaker Kim Jae-seop, who is considered part of the pro-Oh Se-hoon camp and called the ruling a “moment of destiny” immediately after it was handed down.
On how relations should be handled with People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk, who currently holds the party leadership, Yoon said, “Since the end of last year, Mayor Oh has been talking about change and reform within the party. There was even talk of knocking him out of the mayoral primary, but he overcame those hurdles and made it back as mayor of Seoul.”
He added, “Oh is rational, reform-minded and sensible, and advocates for alternative conservatism. That is very positive,” and said, “He is cut from a different cloth than Jang.”
Asked about speculation that Jang might try to keep Oh in check, Yoon predicted, “Even if he tried to rein him in, would that really work? It would be difficult, because Oh is firmly established as mayor. I don’t think Jang would even try to keep him in check.”
Yoon said Oh could later serve as a catalyst for unity within the party. Indeed, the day after the ruling, Oh visited the National Assembly and stressed the need for conservative unity. Yoon said, “He has come through as a solid focal point and called for change, reform and unity. Han is an independent, Lee is with the Reform Party, and Oh is with the People Power Party, but the three of them and I share the same goals.” He added, “It seems he raised the banner of unity in order to appeal to moderate voters.”
He also stressed, “Even if our views and philosophies differ, I think he said that because we share a higher cause: standing up to the Lee Jae Myung administration’s reckless actions, protecting the values and foundations of the Republic of Korea, and defending its liberal democratic republic. We need to build a solid ring of support among rational moderates.”
On conservative unity with independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon and Reform Party lawmaker Lee Jun-seok, Yoon said, “We have to go together. Leader Jang has to come along, too. We need grand conservative unity to become the next governing force in the fullest sense of the word.”
[email protected] Lee Hae-ram Reporter