Yoon Sang-hyeon calls Seoul Mayor Oh 'strongest presidential contender,' expects him to catalyze conservative unity

People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyeon said Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, acquitted on appeal, has "already secured his position as the first to land" in the 2030 presidential race.

Yoon made the remarks Monday on SBS Radio's "Kim Tae-hyeon's News Show," calling Oh "the strongest presidential contender."

"The People Power Party is currently weak among moderate voters and in the Greater Seoul area, and Oh is a strategic asset who can demonstrate competitiveness there," Yoon said. "It is a very positive sign in that we now have a solid center of gravity."

Yoon added that Oh and PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok have "clashed on various issues" and that the two "are somewhat different in character." He said that even if Jang tried to keep Oh in check, "it would be hard to do so, because Oh has already firmly established himself."

Asked by the host whether Oh could serve as a catalyst for conservative unity, Yoon said, "Of course he will," citing Oh's return as "a solid rallying point."

"Lawmaker Han Dong-hoon is independent, lawmaker Lee Jun-seok is with the Reform Party, and Mayor Oh is with the People Power Party — but they all share the same goal," Yoon said. "That goal is to become a rational, commonsense and reform-minded alternative conservatism that appeals to moderate voters."

He noted, however, that "they all need to move together, but none of the contenders have yet laid out a concrete blueprint for when that will happen."

Yoon said that "ultimately, a grand conservative unification that brings everyone together, including PPP leader Jang, is the only way for us to become the next governing force in name and in reality." He added that he believes "if we keep meeting and build a solid framework of rational, moderate pragmatism, we can all move forward together."

Turning to the Democratic Party's push to impeach Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae, Yoon said the party has made "everything about impeaching Jo Hee-dae" and called it "a party completely addicted to impeachment." He said the move "is being built up the way the Rebuilding Korea Party and pro-Cho Kuk factions want," adding that "it does not appear a final decision has been made yet."

On reports that Democratic Party lawmakers Park Gyun-taek and Yang Bu-nam are being floated as candidates for the vacant justice minister post, Yoon said both "have repeatedly expressed support for withdrawing indictments." He criticized their potential appointments as "inappropriate given the conflict-of-interest concerns," saying "they should decline the offer."