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Oh Se-hoon (Korean: 오세훈; born January 4, 1961) is a South Korean politician who is the current Mayor of Seoul since 8 April 2021. He also previously served as a member of the National Assembly from 2000 to 2004, and as Mayor of Seoul from 2006 to 2011. A member of the People Power Party (PPP), Oh is a lawyer by profession.
Oh Se-hoon | |
|---|---|
오세훈 | |
 Official portrait, 2024 | |
| 33rd and 35th Mayor of Seoul | |
| Assumed office 8 April 2021 | |
| President | Moon Jae-in Yoon Suk Yeol |
| Preceded by | Park Won-soon |
| In office 1 July 2006 – 26 August 2011 | |
| President | Roh Moo-hyun Lee Myung-bak |
| Preceded by | Lee Myung-bak |
| Succeeded by | Park Won-soon |
| Member of the National Assembly | |
| In office 30 May 2000 – 29 May 2004 | |
| Preceded by | Hong Sa-duk |
| Succeeded by | Gong Sung-jin |
| Constituency | Gangnam 2nd (Seoul) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 January 1961 Seongdong District, Seoul, South Korea[1] |
| Political party | People Power |
| Other political affiliations | Bareun Party (2017–2018) Liberty Korea Party (2000–2017, 2018–2020) |
| Spouse | Song Hyeon-ok[1] |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence(s) | Seoul, South Korea |
| Alma mater | Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Korea University (LLB) |
| Profession | Politician Lawyer |
| Religion | Roman Catholic (Christian name: Stephen) |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  South Korea |
| Branch/service |  Republic of Korea ArmyArmy Security Command |
| Years of service | 1988–1991 |
| Rank |  Jungwi (First Lieutenant) |
| Oh Se-hoon | |
| Hangul | 오세훈 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | 吳世勳 |
| Revised Romanization | O Sehun |
| McCune–Reischauer | O Sehun |
Personal history
editOh was born on 4 January 1961 in Seongdong District, Seoul.[2] He graduated from Daeil High School and went on to study at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. He then transferred, graduating from Korea University's School of Law. After passing the bar exam, he started practicing as an attorney. In 1994, he appeared on the MBC program Lawyer Oh and Lawyer Bae and gained popularity among the public.[3]
Political career
editIn 2000, Oh was elected as a member of the 16th National Assembly.[1]
Mayor of Seoul (2006–2011)
editOn July 1, 2006, Oh began his first term as the Mayor of Seoul. Oh was reelected to his second term in 2010 but resigned in 2011, partly due to the rejection of his proposal under the Seoul free lunch referendum.[5]
During his tenure, Oh was involved with the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture, participating in a celebration video for the organization alongside foundation chairman Park Bum-Shin and Seoul Arts Director Ahn Eun-Mi.[6][7][unreliable source?]
Post first mayoralty
editIn 2012, Oh spent time in London, United Kingdom as a fellow in the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy at King's College London, focusing on major cities around the world and seeking ways to create jobs and help promote economic growth.[8]
In the 2020 parliamentary election at the Gwang-jin district, he lost to Ko Min-jung, a political newcomer.[9]
Mayor of Seoul (2021–present)
editIn 2021, he won the People Power Party primaries to become the party candidate for the Seoul mayoral by-election. He later won the election, defeating Democratic Party nominee Park Young-sun with 57.5 percent of the votes.[10]
He began his third term on April 8, 2021. In September 2023, Oh met with New York City mayor Eric Adams in Manhattan, to deepen the cultural and economic ties between Seoul and New York City.[11] This was his first official trip representing Seoul on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting.
Dongdaemun Design Plaza was constructed during his tenure.[12]
Seoul City Water Project
editAlthough most Seoul residents choose to drink bottled mineral water, it has been reported that Oh Se-hoon not only vouches for, but drinks the city tap water.[13] Encouraging Seoul residents to drink tap water and reduce dependence on bottled water, as well as publicizing the cleanliness of Seoul tap-water has been a pet project for Oh. Seoul City has recently put forward new regulations on tap-water and the focus has gone from not just safe water but water that tastes great.
From 2006 to 2011, Oh announced that he would make Seoul a city of water,[14] and carried out the Han River Renaissance project to build riverside bike paths and Sebitseom floating islands on the southern bank of the Han by Banpo Bridge.[15]
Because he had initiated so much water-related initiatives, when severe floods occurred in 2011, 2022 and 2023, he was criticized with a nickname of Oseidon, a combination of his name and Poseidon.[16]
Political positions
editLGBTQ rights
editOh stated he "personally can't agree with homosexuality".[17]
When asked about the Seoul Queer Culture Festival during the 2021 Seoul mayoral race, Oh has stated: "In a broader spectrum, the principle is that the rights of minorities, including sexual minorities, must be protected and there should be no discrimination. I of course agree that discrimination must be prohibited. But I think the debate was on the queer festival being held in the central area near City Hall and Gwanghwamun Square, and the city of Seoul has a special committee to make a decision, and there are rules to that as well. This is an issue to be decided with usage rules of the City Hall square, and this is not something that a mayor can individually decide."[18][19]
Oh in 2022 said Seoul may prohibit the Seoul Queer Parade from using the city hall plaza if participants "exhibit indecent materials or overexpose their bodies."[20]
In 2024, the Seoul Queer Parade was denied permission to gather at Seoul Plaza. Municipal authorities cited a book related festival as reason for the denial.[17]
Nuclear weapons
editOh Se-hoon supports South Korea acquiring nuclear weapons in order to counter North Korea. In March 2023, during an interview with Reuters, he said that "we've come to a point where it is difficult to convince people with the logic that we should refrain from developing nuclear weapons and stick to the cause of denuclearisation".[21][22]
Diplomatic cable
editIn a leaked diplomatic cable, it was reported that in Oh's discussion with Alexander Vershbow in 2006 he stated that a merger between the Grand National Party and the Democratic Party would be beneficial to the GNP.[23]
Electoral history
edit| Election | Year | Post | Party Affiliation | Votes | Percentage of votes | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16th General Election | 2000 | Member of National Assembly from Seoul Gangnam District B | Hannara Party | 64,516 | 59.39% | Won |
| 4th Local Election | 2006 | Mayor of Seoul | Hannara Party | 2,409,760 | 61.05% | Won |
| 5th Local Election | 2010 | Mayor of Seoul | Hannara Party | 2,086,127 | 47.43% | Won |
| 20th General Election | 2016 | Member of National Assembly from Seoul Jongno District | Saenuri Party | 33,490 | 39.72% | Lost |
| 21st General Election | 2020 | Member of National Assembly from Seoul Gwangjin District B | United Future Party | 51,464 | 47.80% | Lost |
| By-election | 2021 | Mayor of Seoul | People Power Party | 2,798,778 | 57.50% | Won |
| 8th Local Election | 2022 | Mayor of Seoul | People Power Party | 2,608,277 | 59.05% | Won |
Writings
edit- 가끔은 변호사도 울고싶다 (When a Lawyer Wants to Cry) by Oh Se-hoon (Myeongjin Publishing, October 1995) ISBN 89-7677-030-7
- 우리는 실패에서 희망을 본다 (Failure Offers Seeds of Hope) by Kang Won-taek, Kim Ho-ghi, Oh Se-hoon, and Lee Young-jo (Hwanggeumgaji Publishing, August 2005) ISBN 89-8273-930-0
References
edit- ^ a b c [레이더P] 오세훈, 최연소 시장·10년 야인생활…결자해지 도전 [[Radar P] Oh Se-hoon, the youngest mayor, 10 years of wild life... decision-making challenge] (in Korean). Maeil Business Newspaper. 31 January 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2023 – via Naver.
- ^ "About the Mayor". Archived from the original on 2011-09-06. Retrieved 2011-02-25.
- ^ 서울시장 된 오세훈, 그의 가파른 인생곡선 [Seoul mayor Oh Se-hoon, his steep life curve]. Topclass. The Chosun Ilbo. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
- ^ "Oh Se-Hoon Returns as Seoul Mayor". The Seoul Times. 7 April 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
- ^ "Seoul Mayor Steps Down After Losing School Lunch Referendum". VOA News. 25 August 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
- ^ 서울문화예술회관 연합회 창립기념행사 개최 [Held an event to commemorate the founding of the Seoul Culture and Arts Center Association]. Naver Blog (in Korean). 3 September 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
- ^ 서울시장과 서울문화재단의 미래 [The Mayor of Seoul and the Future of the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture]. Naver Blog (in Korean). 19 April 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
- ^ "Oh Se-hoon in London to study and shy away from politics". Yonhap News Agency. 28 May 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
- ^ [광진을] "정말 어려운 싸움"... 고민정의 0.5%p 차 '매운맛' 승리 (in Korean). OhmyNews. 2020-04-16. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
- ^ "(Yonhap Feature) How young voters, once solid supporters of liberal causes, turned against Moon's party in by-elections". Yonhap News Agency. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
- ^ "Mayor Oh Se-hoon visits the New York Korean War Veterans Memorial". Seoul Metropolitan Government. 21 September 2023. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
- ^ 전, 명훈 (2021-04-02). 오세훈 "DDP, 추진할 때 욕먹었지만 이젠 서울의 명소" (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
- ^ "Seoul City holds 2nd Arisu Festival to show tap water is safe to drink". Newsworld. Archived from the original on 2011-05-01.
- ^ 서울 물난리 '오세이돈의 무상급수(水)'... "오세훈 '물의 도시' 만든다더니, 공약 실현" [Seoul's water crisis, 'Oseidon's free water supply'... "Oh Se-hoon said he would make a 'city of water', a promise realized"]. Kyunghyang Shinmun. 28 July 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2023 – via Naver.
- ^ "Mayor Oh Se-hoon's new goal is a Waterside Emotional City". Korea JoongAng Daily. 28 April 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
- ^ "Flooded Gangnam, a 'slap in the face' for Seoul mayor". The Korea Herald. 10 August 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
- ^ a b "150,000 celebrate Pride Parade despite backlash". The Korea Times. AFP. 2024-06-01. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
- ^ Ko, Jun-tae (February 23, 2021). "What Seoul mayor candidates have to say on LGBTQ festival". The Korea Herald.
- ^ Sohn, Kook-hee (February 21, 2021). "野 후보 4인도 뛰어든 퀴어축제 논란, 박영선·우상호 침묵" (in Korean). JoongAng Ilbo – via Naver.
- ^ Kim Tong-Hyung (2022-07-16). "South Korean capital celebrates 1st Pride parade in 3 years". AP. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
- ^ "South Korea needs nuclear weapons, says influential Seoul mayor". The National. 2023-03-13. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
- ^ Shin, Hyonhee (2023-03-13). "Exclusive: Seoul mayor calls for South Korean nuclear weapons to counter threat from North". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
- ^ Park (박), Jong-chan (종찬) (2011-09-21). 오세훈 위키리크스 첫 등장 "민주당과 통합이 한나라당 도움". The Hankyeoreh (in Korean). Retrieved 2011-10-14.
External links
edit
- 이명박+오세훈은? "소비에트식 콘크리트 아파트!", Korean editorial article critical of Oh's and Lee Myung-bak's urban and environmental policies (in Korean)