Oh Se-hoon

Early life and education

Oh was born on 4 January 1961 in Seongdong District, Seoul, South Korea. He graduated from Daeil High School and went on to study at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. He then transferred, graduating from Korea University's School of Law. After passing the bar exam, he started practicing as an attorney. In 1994, he appeared on the MBC program ** and gained popularity among the public.

Oh is Catholic and his baptismal name is Stephen.

Early political career

In 2000, Oh was elected as a member of the 16th National Assembly.

Mayoralties (2006–2011, 2021–present)

First mayoralty (2006–2011)

On 1 July 2006, Oh began his first term as the Mayor of Seoul. Oh was re-elected to his second term in 2010 but resigned in 2011, partly due to the rejection of his proposal under the Seoul free lunch referendum.

During his tenure, Oh was involved with the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture, participating in a celebration video for the organization alongside foundation chairman Park Bum-shin and Seoul Arts Director Ahn Eun-mi.

Post first mayoralty

In 2012, Oh spent time in London, United Kingdom as a fellow in the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy at King's College London, focusing on major cities around the world and seeking ways to create jobs and help promote economic growth.

In the 2020 legislative election at the Gwangjin District, he lost to Ko Min-jung, a political newcomer.

Second mayoralty (2021–present)

In 2021, he won the People Power Party primaries to become the party candidate for the Seoul mayoral by-election. He later won the election, defeating Democratic Party nominee Park Young-sun with 57.5 percent of the votes.

He began his third term on 8 April 2021. In September 2023, Oh met with the mayor of New York City, Eric Adams in Manhattan, to deepen the cultural and economic ties between Seoul and New York City. This was his first official trip representing Seoul on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting.

Dongdaemun Design Plaza was constructed during his tenure.

Seoul City Water Project

Although most Seoul residents choose to drink bottled mineral water, it has been reported that Oh not only vouches for, but drinks the city tap water. Encouraging Seoul residents to drink tap water and reduce dependence on bottled water, as well as publicizing the cleanliness of Seoul tap-water has been a pet project for Oh. Seoul has recently put forward new regulations on tap-water and the focus has gone from not just safe water but water that tastes great.

From 2006 to 2011, Oh announced that he would make Seoul a city of water, and carried out the Han River Renaissance project to build riverside bike paths and Sebitseom floating islands on the southern bank of the Han by Banpo Bridge.

Because he had initiated so much water-related initiatives, when severe floods occurred in 2011, 2022 and 2023, he was criticized with a nickname of Oseidon, a combination of his name and Poseidon.

Political positions

LGBTQ rights

Oh stated he "personally can't agree with homosexuality".

When asked about the Seoul Queer Culture Festival during the 2021 Seoul mayoral race, Oh has stated: "In a broader spectrum, the principle is that the rights of minorities, including sexual minorities, must be protected and there should be no discrimination. I of course agree that discrimination must be prohibited. But I think the debate was on the queer festival being held in the central area near City Hall and Gwanghwamun Square, and the city of Seoul has a special committee to make a decision, and there are rules to that as well. This is an issue to be decided with usage rules of the City Hall square, and this is not something that a mayor can individually decide."

Oh in 2022 said Seoul may prohibit the Seoul Queer Parade from using the city hall plaza if participants "exhibit indecent materials or overexpose their bodies."

In 2024, the Seoul Queer Parade was denied permission to gather at Seoul Plaza. Municipal authorities cited a book related festival as reason for the denial.

Nuclear weapons

Oh supports South Korea acquiring nuclear weapons in order to counter North Korea. In March 2023, during an interview with Reuters, he said that "we've come to a point where it is difficult to convince people with the logic that we should refrain from developing nuclear weapons and stick to the cause of denuclearisation".

Diplomatic cable

In a leaked diplomatic cable, it was reported that in Oh's discussion with Alexander Vershbow in 2006 he stated that a merger between the Grand National Party and the Democratic Party would be beneficial to the GNP.

Relations with President Yoon Suk Yeol

Despite being a member of the People Power Party of President Yoon Suk Yeol, Oh opposed Yoon's declaration of martial law on 3 December 2024.

Electoral history

Writings

• 가끔은 변호사도 울고싶다 (When a Lawyer Wants to Cry) by Oh Se-hoon (Myeongjin Publishing, October 1995)
• *우리는 실패에서 희망을 본다 * (Failure Offers Seeds of Hope) by Kang Won-taek, Kim Ho-ghi, Oh Se-hoon, and Lee Young-jo (Hwanggeumgaji Publishing, August 2005)

References

References

1. (31 January 2021). link. [[Maeil Business Newspaper]]
2. "About the Mayor".
3. (8 April 2021). link. [[The Chosun Ilbo]]
4. (7 April 2021). "Oh Se-Hoon Returns as Seoul Mayor". The Seoul Times.
5. (25 August 2011). "Seoul Mayor Steps Down After Losing School Lunch Referendum". VOA News.
6. (3 September 2008). link. (July 2025)
7. (28 May 2012). "Oh Se-hoon in London to study and shy away from politics". [[Yonhap News Agency]].
8. (16 April 2020). link. [[OhmyNews]]
9. (9 April 2021). "(Yonhap Feature) How young voters, once solid supporters of liberal causes, turned against Moon's party in by-elections". [[Yonhap News Agency]].
10. (21 September 2023). "Mayor Oh Se-hoon visits the New York Korean War Veterans Memorial". [[Seoul Metropolitan Government]].
11. 전. 명훈. 연합뉴스. (2 April 2021). link. [[Yonhap News Agency]]
12. "Seoul City holds 2nd Arisu Festival to show tap water is safe to drink". Newsworld.
13. (28 July 2011). link. [[Kyunghyang Shinmun]]
14. (28 April 2022). "Mayor Oh Se-hoon's new goal is a Waterside Emotional City". [[Korea JoongAng Daily]].
15. (10 August 2022). "Flooded Gangnam, a 'slap in the face' for Seoul mayor". [[The Korea Herald]].
16. . (1 June 2024). ["150,000 celebrate Pride Parade despite backlash"](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/06/113_375780.html). *AFP*.
17. Ko, Jun-tae. (23 February 2021). "What Seoul mayor candidates have to say on LGBTQ festival". [[The Korea Herald]].
18. Sohn, Kook-hee. (21 February 2021). "野 후보 4인도 뛰어든 퀴어축제 논란, 박영선·우상호 침묵". [[JoongAng Ilbo]].
19. Kim Tong-Hyung. (16 July 2022). "South Korean capital celebrates 1st Pride parade in 3 years". AP.
20. (13 March 2023). "South Korea needs nuclear weapons, says influential Seoul mayor".
21. Shin, Hyonhee. (13 March 2023). "Exclusive: Seoul mayor calls for South Korean nuclear weapons to counter threat from North". [[Reuters]].
22. Park (박). Jong-chan (종찬). (21 September 2011). The Hankyeoreh. link
23. Lee, Jung-joo. (4 December 2024). "Seoul mayor voices opposition against martial law". [[The Korea Herald]].