Lee Jun-seok says he played 'small role' in Oh Se-hoon's tough election win, offers congratulations on acquittal

Reform Party lawmaker Lee Jun-seok defended his recent show of solidarity with People Power Party Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, saying politics is merely about "helping each other out — giving and taking for the country and its residents — and helping when there is something to help with."

Lee made the remarks Monday in a Facebook post, writing that "back in 2021, when Mayor Oh Se-hoon broke through a tough election, I played a small role and made a name for myself carrying the big title of party leader."

He added that Oh's prompt action on the express bus issue from Dongtan's new residential district to Seoul reflected the trust built between them. "It was that trust that led Seoul to immediately take the measures it could when I raised the express bus problem," Lee said.

He also took a swipe at those he said were too calculating to offer a simple congratulation. "I would encourage those who, without the nerve or composure to offer a plain congratulation to someone who has been through hardship, are instead busy on the abacus — to exchange a greeting of peace and find some calm in their hearts," he wrote.

Oh recently won an acquittal on appeal in a case centered on allegations that political operative Myung Tae-kyun paid polling fees on his behalf.

Oh invited the lawmakers who had come to the courthouse that day to his official residence for a dinner, where they exchanged warm words.

The dinner was attended by People Power Party lawmakers Yoon Sang-hyun, Kim Seok-ki, Shin Seong-beom, Lee Man-hee, Kim Mi-ae, Cho Eun-hee, Cho Jeong-hun and Lee Sang-hwi, as well as Lee Jun-seok, who had also been at the courthouse.

The lawmakers each offered congratulations to Oh for overturning the first-instance verdict and emerging unscathed. Lee reportedly marked the occasion with an acrostic poem on Oh's name, with lines reading: "Like a tumbler doll / having weathered the storms of the world / a warm breeze now blows."