Oh Se-hoon wins historic fifth term as Seoul mayor by razor-thin margin

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has achieved a historic milestone, becoming the first individual to win a fifth term as the head of South Korea's capital. Running under the People Power Party banner, Oh staged a remarkable comeback, overcoming a deficit in the polls to secure 48.94% of the vote.

He narrowly clinched victory over his Democratic challenger, Chong Won-oh, who garnered 48.34%. The close race was decided as 97.7% of ballots were counted on Thursday morning, prompting Chong to concede shortly after.

Oh, who previously served two consecutive terms from 2006 to 2011 and returned to office in 2021, focused his campaign on his experience and achievements as the incumbent mayor. He strategically distanced himself from the People Power Party leadership, including party leader Jang Dong-hyuk, leveraging his personal popularity.

As a conservative figure often seen as independent from the party establishment, Oh is expected to play a crucial role in the conservative movement's efforts to regroup and redefine itself following a broader electoral defeat. His reelection also strengthens his position as a potential candidate for the conservative nomination in the 2028 presidential election.

Oh described his win as a "victory for common sense," stating that voters had made Seoul "the last line of defense for democracy." His narrow success is interpreted as a reflection of public sentiment to counterbalance the current administration and a sign of Seoul residents' concerns regarding the housing market.

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You, the voters, made Seoul the last line of defense for democracy, ensuring that the Republic of Korea does not lurch entirely to one side.