Seoul mayoral candidates clash over mayor's role in National Council

The upcoming Seoul mayoral election has ignited a debate over the mayor's role in the National Council, with candidates Oh Se-hoon of the People Power Party and Jung Won-oh of the Democratic Party presenting starkly contrasting views.

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If you give me the Seoul mayoral position one more time, I will explain and push through your will in front of the president.

Oh Se-hoon, the incumbent, declared his intention to attend National Council meetings if re-elected, aiming to directly present and secure approval for his "Five Orders for Seoul Citizens." These pledges include normalizing redevelopment projects, preventing property tax "bombs," and halting the cancellation of public indictments. "If you give me the Seoul mayoral position one more time, I will explain and push through your will in front of the president," Oh stated during a campaign rally.

However, the Democratic Party vehemently opposed Oh's stance. Party spokesperson Park Kyung-mi called his plan an "arrogant notion," arguing that the mayor's seat at the council is meant for conveying local needs to the national government, not for enhancing political leverage. Jung Won-oh, the Democratic Party candidate, echoed this sentiment, criticizing Oh's approach as confrontational. "The Seoul mayor's position is not a place to fight with the president," Jung said, warning against electing a candidate driven by "political ambition."

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The Seoul mayor's position is not a place to fight with the president. You shouldn't elect someone who aims to rebuild conservatism by fighting the president.

The controversy touches upon the Seoul mayor's right to attend National Council meetings, a privilege established to facilitate communication between the city and the central government. While mayors do not have voting rights, they possess the right to speak. This right has seen varying levels of utilization depending on the political alignment between the mayor and the president, with mayors from the ruling party historically attending more frequently.

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The Seoul mayor's seat at the National Council is a duty to convey the realities of the people's livelihood to national affairs, not an authority to be used to enhance political stature.