Mayoral candidates Jeong Won-oh and Oh Se-hoon engaged in a fierce campaign battle for control of Seoul leading up to the election [1].
The race for the capital is viewed as a decisive battleground for both parties. Because Seoul serves as a political bellwether, the outcome could signal a broader shift in national sentiment and influence the stability of the current administration.
Jeong Won-oh, representing the Democratic Party, has focused his campaign on a leadership transition. On May 31, he said he wanted a "change of competence in Seoul" [3]. By June 2, 2026, his messaging shifted to emphasize alignment with national leadership, and he said he is "one team with the Lee Jae-myung government" [1], [2].
Oh Se-hoon of the People Power Party has countered by framing the city as a critical defensive point for his party. On June 2, 2026, Oh said the city is the "final stronghold, Seoul" [1], [4]. This rhetoric underscores his strategy to prevent the opposition from gaining a foothold in the capital.
Campaign activities, including rallies and the deployment of slogans, continued through the day before the election [1], [5]. Both candidates have utilized the high-visibility environment of the city to mobilize voters in what has become an intense struggle for municipal power.
Throughout the final stretch of the race, the candidates focused on contrasting their visions for the city's future. While Jeong emphasized a partnership with the central government, Oh focused on the necessity of maintaining the city's current political alignment to protect his party's interests.
“"one team with the Lee Jae-myung government"”
The framing of the Seoul mayoral race as a 'final stronghold' or a 'one team' effort indicates that the election is less about local municipal administration and more about national political leverage. By tying their candidacies to national figures and party survival, both candidates are treating the capital as a proxy for the broader struggle between the Democratic Party and the People Power Party.
