Hong Jun-pyo, a former mayor of Daegu, recently commented on current Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's decision not to apply for the candidacy for the Seoul mayoral elections under the People Power Party. In his Facebook post, Hong described Oh's avoidance of tough electoral battles as a notable characteristic, pointing out that the upcoming election appears to hold little chance of success for candidates. He expressed that Oh's absence could hint at an excuse wrapped in a proposed change in party direction, following Oh’s statement about prioritizing the party's distancing from former president Yoon Seok-youl.

Furthermore, Hong recalled the circumstances surrounding the 2018 local elections when Oh, who was perceived as a strong candidate, left the People Power Party to join the Bareunmirae Party. He lamented that the party had to resort to a last-minute candidate, Kim Moon-soo, who ended up placing second in a three-way race against Park Won-soon and Ahn Cheol-soo. Drawing from these experiences, Hong questioned the commitment of potential candidates, including Na Kyung-won and Ahn Cheol-soo, to vying for the Seoul mayor position, suggesting that their retreat signifies a lack of faith in winning the upcoming election.

On the same day as Hong’s comments, Na Kyung-won officially announced she would not run in the local elections, expressing her desire to support the party's victory instead. In addition, Shin Dong-wook, another member of the People Power Party, also declared his intention not to participate. Currently, only two candidates have stepped forward from the People Power Party to run for mayor, indicating a significant downturn in competitive aspirations within the party for this high-profile election.