Oh Se-hoon, the Mayor of Seoul, announced on May 17 his candidacy for the People Power Party in the upcoming local elections, declaring that he would approach the campaign with the mentality of a frontline commander. The move comes as the party faced a crisis with the absence of other strong candidates. In his press conference held at City Hall, Oh expressed a strong sense of responsibility towards the citizens of Seoul and his determination to reinvigorate conservative politics in the capital. He had previously refrained from registering as a candidate twice but decided to register on the final day of the extension, emphasizing the need for reform within the party.

Despite his candidacy, tensions within the party continued as Oh criticized the party leader, Jang Dong-hyuk, for failing to execute necessary reforms and ignoring the demands of both the public and party members. Oh accused Jang of lacking the vision to lead the party effectively, claiming that the current leadership was leading candidates and party members into "danger." He reiterated his commitment to push for reform and transparency within the campaign strategy, aiming to hold those in leadership accountable for their actions.

The context of this announcement indicates a strategic move by Oh in light of potential backlash if he chose not to run, especially given the absence of other prominent candidates. As the party's candidate selection process had already been extended multiple times for his benefit, Oh's decision reflects a calculated response to the pressures of the political environment, underscoring the importance of taking action amidst perceived stagnation within the party leadership.