Oh Se-hoon: “Lee Jae Myung regime seeks to control even the judiciary... Conservatives must unite”

[Financial News] Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon strongly criticized the Lee Jae Myung government and the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) for pushing for a parliamentary investigation into Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, and called for conservatives to unite.
Appearing on TV Chosun’s “Gangjeokdeul” on the 31st of last month, Mayor Oh said, “Looking at how the Lee Jae Myung regime conducts politics, it has obviously taken control of the executive branch. Can’t you see that it intends to bring even the judiciary under its thumb?”
On the Democrats’ push for a parliamentary investigation into Chief Justice Cho, he criticized them, saying, “The Democrats are losing even the right to call themselves a pro-democracy force,” and, “They regard the law as a means of governing and the judiciary as an object of their rule.”
He went on to claim that they were using their majority in the National Assembly to pressure the judiciary, saying, “They have made it second nature to use their majority to pass shoddy laws at will, including laws that trample on the spirit of the Constitution, and use them as tools of governance.”
He also said that responding to the situation required political cooperation that went beyond internal conflicts within the People Power Party. Mayor Oh said, “We have to fight an absolute monarch like this—why should it matter who meets whom or who is close to whom?” He added, “I think there is no one we cannot meet and no one with whom we cannot join forces, including not only Rep. Han Dong-hoon but also party leader Jang Dong-hyeok.”
He stressed cooperation among conservatives to win elections, saying, “When we find ourselves on a battlefield like a general or presidential election, we have to pool every last bit.”
However, when asked whether he was willing to call first for former party leader Han to return to the party, he struck a cautious note, saying, “You have to proceed as if crossing thin ice and handle it like glassware. Can anything be achieved by leading with words?” He also explained that his past distance from party leader Jang reflected the different political circumstances of local and general elections.
He also stated his position on controversies surrounding key Seoul Metropolitan Government policies. In response to criticism that Hangang Bus was not adequately serving as public transportation for commuters, he emphasized that it was a new form of transport combining tourism and transit. He noted that this year’s Hangang Bus ridership had grown to at least twice last year’s level, and also pointed to the potential to increase revenue through ancillary businesses such as food and beverage services at the piers and advertising. He said, “A surplus is expected around the end of next year. It is on track to surpass the break-even point in three years, and at this level, that would be a huge success.”
Regarding kickback allegations that surfaced during the vessel construction process, he said brokerage fees incurred in connecting the shipyards had been misinterpreted. Mayor Oh said, “There is no evidence whatsoever that kickbacks were paid.”
On housing policy, he criticized the government’s lending restrictions, saying they worked to the relative advantage of people with cash on hand. He argued that the Seoul Metropolitan Government needed to expand apartment supply through reconstruction and redevelopment and offer floor-area-ratio incentives to encourage the construction of non-apartment housing.
Mayor Oh said, “The Seoul Metropolitan Government can only increase supply,” expressing his determination to keep expanding the volume of housing supply.
[email protected] Seong Cho-rong Reporter