Oh Se-hoon floats emergency committee idea; PPP leader Jang suspects political motive

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon of the People Power Party has raised the idea of converting the party's leadership structure to an emergency committee before its next national convention.

People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok pushed back sharply, suggesting Oh harbored ulterior political motives.

Oh said Wednesday in a Facebook post that "there should be no sacred cows or limits on how the party reforms itself if it wants to win back public support in the greater Seoul area," adding that "any option must remain on the table if it can demonstrate genuine renewal to the people. What matters is reading public sentiment accurately and uniting the party's will and energy."

Oh went on to say that "transitioning to an emergency committee structure before the national convention is one such option," and that "as the general election draws closer, intense internal debate will naturally lead to a consensus on the best path to victory."

Oh also said the key question was not "who joins forces with whom or who seizes control of the party," but rather "how the People Power Party can change and unite to regain public trust and win the 2028 general election. That is the only point around which we must rally."

Meanwhile, Jang met reporters Wednesday at a forum hosted by TV Chosun at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul and expressed displeasure at Oh's remarks, saying they "cannot be interpreted as anything other than a different political agenda," Yonhap reported.

"Saying the current leadership cannot lead the party into the general election, or that a switch to an emergency committee is needed, is not truly about winning the election or about the good of the People Power Party," Jang said. He added: "I am worried about Seoul residents suffering over real estate and their livelihoods, yet Mayor Oh seems to be paying a great deal of attention to internal party affairs. Perhaps we should just swap roles — I become Seoul mayor and Mayor Oh comes in as party leader."

Jang said Oh's comments appeared to reflect "a kind of wishful thinking about wanting a new leadership to come in," and that "for now, the right path for the party, for the people, and for winning the general election is for Mayor Oh to look after the lives of Seoul residents, while the party leadership and floor leadership focus on the lives of the people."