Oh Se-hoon clears legal hurdle, emerges as leading conservative presidential contender

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is expected to accelerate his presidential ambitions after an appeals court acquitted him of violating the Political Funds Act.

With the legal cloud that had weighed on his political standing now lifted, observers say Oh is positioned to build on his mayoral record while sharpening his criticism of the government and the ruling party — moves that could cement his status as a leading conservative contender for the presidency.

Oh was acquitted by the appeals court on Friday. The following day, Saturday, he worked through four major public engagements from morning to evening.

In the morning, he attended a state-sponsored Buddhist memorial rite at Jingwansa temple in Eunpyeong-gu. In the afternoon, he appeared at an event organized by the News Photographers Association of Korea.

Speaking to reporters after the event, Oh was asked about his future role within the party. "The general election is approaching," he said. "The People Power Party will bring comfort to the people when it presents a united front rather than a divided one."

That evening, he paid tribute to victims and consoled bereaved families at a ceremony marking the fourth anniversary of the Itaewon crowd crush. He then attended a stone-donation ceremony held by Sweden at Gamsaui Jeong garden in Gwanghwamun Square.

While the concentration of events partly reflected the weekend schedule, political observers are watching closely given that Oh filled a full slate of high-profile public engagements on the very day after his acquittal.

Some in political circles see the ruling as an opportunity for Oh to widen his room to maneuver. Freed from the legal burden, he is now expected to speak and act more assertively — not only on city affairs but also on national politics.

One YouTube political program predicted that Oh would soon be nicknamed "Daesehoon" — a play on words suggesting he is the dominant figure of the moment. The acquittal is seen as a chance for Oh to raise his profile within the conservative camp and build political momentum. His actual competitiveness in a presidential race, however, will depend on how broadly he can expand the conservative base, what policy achievements he can claim, and how the political landscape evolves.

How Oh positions himself on the Lee Jae Myung administration's real estate policies and judicial reform will also draw attention. Given the wide gap between the ruling and opposition parties on both issues, Oh may use his experience running Seoul to highlight problems with government policy and carve out a distinct political identity.

Translating his mayoral record into presidential credentials will be equally important. Oh has pursued a vision he calls "G3 Seoul" — positioning the capital among the world's top three global cities — alongside urban competitiveness and economic revitalization as his signature goals. Delivering visible results from flagship projects such as the Han River ferry service, and producing tangible improvements in livelihoods and the local economy, could strengthen his reputation as a capable administrator.

Ultimately, two tasks lie ahead of Oh: broadening his political standing on the strength of the cleared legal risk, while demonstrating his governing ability through concrete results at City Hall.

An acquittal at the appeals level does not automatically translate into a dramatic surge in presidential viability. But how Oh conducts himself — both in city governance and in national politics — now that the legal burden has been lifted is expected to have a significant bearing on the shape of the conservative field heading into the next leadership contest.

Meanwhile, independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon said Sunday that Oh is "a highly reasonable person and someone I believe we must join forces with and move forward together to secure a conservative victory."

Han made the remarks on KBS's Sunday Diagnosis program when asked to assess Oh as a political figure. When a follow-up question raised the idea that Han and Oh should join hands to broaden the conservative base, Han added, "We have never let go of each other's hands."