Hong Jun-pyo to Meet with Oh Se-hoon: A Strategic Move in the Presidential Race?

Hong Jun-pyo, a former mayor of Daegu and a presidential hopeful for the People Power Party (PPP), is scheduled to have a dinner meeting with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon today. This comes just three days after Oh Se-hoon declared his non-participation in the upcoming presidential election.

According to sources close to Mayor Oh, the meeting was arranged at the request of Hong Jun-pyo’s team. The two are expected to meet at the Seoul Mayor’s official residence in Hannam-dong, with Kim Byung-min, the Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs, also in attendance.

As PPP presidential hopefuls are extending invitations to Mayor Oh, Kim Moon-soo, former Minister of Employment and Labor, and Ahn Cheol-soo, a PPP member of the National Assembly, are also scheduled to meet with Mayor Oh tomorrow.

Hong Jun-pyo’s meeting with Mayor Oh a day earlier than others is seen as an attempt to gain an advantage in the primary race by absorbing Mayor Oh’s moderate supporters. On the 12th, Hong stated, “Mayor Oh’s decision not to run for president is a response to the concerns of Seoul citizens and a gesture of loyalty to our party.” He added, “I will actively embrace Mayor Oh’s themes of ‘growth again’ and ‘compassion for the vulnerable’ and reflect them in future state affairs.”

Although Hong Jun-pyo drew a line on the possibility of an alliance with Mayor Oh after declaring his candidacy the previous day, stating, “How can there be an alliance with someone who isn’t running?”, it appears that they have been communicating behind the scenes. This meeting could be a crucial step in shaping the dynamics of the PPP presidential primary.

[Understanding Korean Political Context]

• People Power Party (PPP): One of the major political parties in South Korea, generally considered to be on the conservative side.
• Daegu: A major city in South Korea, often considered a stronghold for conservative political parties.
• Hannam-dong: An affluent neighborhood in Seoul, known for being the location of many high-profile residences, including the Seoul Mayor’s official residence.
• National Assembly: The unicameral legislature of South Korea.