Seoul mayoral candidate Oh Se-hoon (People Power Party) said that stopping the subway is a criminal act during a public appearance this week [1].
The statement highlights a growing tension between city administration and activists over public transit disruptions and urban development projects in the capital.
Speaking May 13 [1], Oh stood in front of the Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (SADD) in Seoul to address the city's transit stability. He said the act of halting subway services is a crime, framing the disruption of public transport as an unacceptable infringement on the rights of the city's commuters [1].
In addition to his comments on transit, Oh targeted the opposition's "Garden of Inspection" project. He said the initiative is a product of hasty administration, suggesting that the project lacks the necessary planning, and oversight required for such a significant urban undertaking [1].
Oh's remarks come at a critical juncture in the mayoral race, as candidates seek to balance the demands of various social advocacy groups with the operational needs of the city's infrastructure. By labeling subway disruptions as criminal, Oh is positioning himself as a proponent of strict law and order regarding the city's primary transit arteries [1].
Throughout his address, Oh said that while social grievances may exist, they should not be addressed through methods that paralyze the city's movement. He said the opposition's administrative approach to urban greening and inspection was rushed into existence without proper deliberation [1].
“"stopping the subway is a crime"”
This rhetoric signals a hardline approach to public protests that impact urban infrastructure. By framing transit disruptions as criminal acts rather than civil disobedience, Oh is appealing to a voter base concerned with efficiency and stability, while simultaneously attempting to paint the opposition as administratively incompetent through his critique of the Garden of Inspection project.
