Oh Se-hoon hosts dinner at official residence with PPP Public Administration and Security Committee members... agrees Hangang Bus political attacks crossed the line and warrant an active response

[Financial News] Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon met for dinner with People Power Party lawmakers on the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee, and they agreed on the need to actively counter the Democratic Party’s recent attacks targeting the Seoul city administration.
According to political sources and the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Mayor Oh invited People Power Party lawmakers on the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee to the mayor’s official residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan District, Seoul, for dinner at 7 p.m. on the 3rd. The dinner lasted about two hours. Five lawmakers attended, including Rep. Kang Myeong-gu, the opposition party’s committee secretary, as well as Reps. Kwon Young-jin, Park Deok-heum, Park Sang-ung and Seo Myeong-ok.

The dinner was arranged to thank People Power Party members of the Public Administration and Security Committee for actively defending the city administration during the recently concluded parliamentary audit of the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
According to attendees, Mayor Oh pointed out that at least 80% of Democratic Party lawmakers’ questions during the audit focused on the ‘Hangang Bus’ project. He expressed concern that this went beyond the bounds of normal legislative activity and amounted to an excessive political attack hampering the Seoul city administration, saying it had “crossed the line.” They also spoke at length about matters including Democratic Party Rep. Park Joo-min’s complaint against Mayor Oh, accusing him of publishing false information in violation of the Public Official Election Act over remarks related to Hangang Bus.
People Power Party lawmakers also said the Democratic Party’s attacks over Hangang Bus were largely false, exaggerated and distorted. They agreed on the need to communicate closely on future issues under the committee’s jurisdiction and to respond actively at the party level. They also exchanged views in depth on the Seoul Metropolitan Council’s administrative audit, follow-up measures at the National Assembly, and Seoul’s fiscal situation ahead of the upcoming budget review.

The dinner also turned to behind-the-scenes details of Mayor Oh’s recent appeal trial. He reportedly shared that, in the case involving allegations that someone else paid his opinion poll expenses, he became convinced he would be acquitted after a recording in which political broker Myeong Tae-gyun said words to the effect that “Oh Se-hoon doesn’t know” was admitted as evidence. Oh was recently acquitted in the second trial.
However, there was reportedly no specific mention of the ‘conservative unity’ idea or alliances, which have recently become a topic of discussion in political circles.
After having dinner with lawmakers who accompanied him to court on the 26th of last month, shortly after his acquittal on appeal, Mayor Oh followed up by meeting with members of the Public Administration and Security Committee that day. He continues to broaden his ties within the party through what is known as ‘dining politics.’ That morning, he also attended a discussion jointly hosted at the National Assembly by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Metropolitan Chapter of the People Power Party, where he emphasized unity and cooperation in the conservative camp, saying, “There is no one I can’t meet, and no one I can’t join forces with.”
The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to continue arranging meals with People Power Party lawmakers serving on standing committees responsible for Seoul city affairs, including the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee and the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee.


[email protected] Park Ji-hyun Reporter