Oh suffers political setback

By Na Jeong-ju

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon’s political fate has become increasingly uncertain following Wednesday’s defeat in the referendum on the opposition-led free lunch program, seen as a de-facto confidence vote on the 50-year-old conservative mayor.

The biggest question now is: Will he be able to overcome the political setback and remain as a presidential contender?

Analysts say he failed to unite conservatives in the lead-up to the vote. Proposing the referendum, Oh called the free lunch program a populist initiative aimed for next year’s presidential race and general elections, saying it should be introduced in stages not to weigh on the state budget.

“Oh appealed for unwavering conservative support for his campaign against the liberals’ free lunch program, but his defeat was widely expected even before the vote,” said Yang Sung-ham, a political professor of Yonsei University.

“In a sense, the referendum was like a political gamble. A win would have boosted his political profile, but he lost.”

As liberals stepped up a campaign to boycott the referendum, the mayor announced on Aug. 12 that he would not run in the presidential election next year regardless of the result of the vote in an apparent bid to seek unity of the conservatives.

Days later, he even vowed to resign as mayor in a tearful press conference if voter turnout fails to exceed 33.3 percent, drawing public criticism that he put his mayoral job at stake due to disputes on just a single issue.

“The referendum is a choice between ‘excessive welfare’ and ‘sustainable welfare,’” Oh said, calling himself a crusader against free-for-all welfare pledges by populist politicians. “The referendum is a matter that will affect the future of our country. It is more important than anything.”

However, not all conservatives agreed with Oh.

Reps. Na Kyung-won and Nam Kyung-pil, members of the ruling Grand National Party’s Supreme Council criticized Oh for linking the free lunch vote to his mayoral post, saying such a stance won’t get support from all party members.

“Oh is reacting emotionally to the liberals’ campaign against the referendum. His way of handling the issue will only aggravate the situation,” Na said.

Observers said Oh’s move was aimed at confronting liberal politicians, who have labeled the referendum as a means to boost his political ambition ahead of next year’s presidential election and to rally support for his welfare policy.

Oh has advocated a selective welfare ideology which includes providing free lunches to children most in need, denouncing populist policies of opposition parties.

However, conservatives showed mixed responses to his ideas, dealing a blow to his preparations for the referendum.

Rep. Park Geun-hye, the leading GNP candidate for the next presidency, has stayed away from the controversy over the free lunch program, drawing complaints from Oh’s supporters.

“It is up to citizens in Seoul to decide on the program. It is not a national issue,” Park said last week.

Oh’s image as “mayor working only for the rich and conglomerates” could also be a big burden for him in broadening his support base in the future.

After losing the lunch battle Wednesday, Oh said he will “humbly accept” the result of the vote. But he did not specify when he would step down.

In the referendum, voter turnouts in wealthy districts such as Gangnam, Seocho and Songpa in southern Seoul, were higher than other areas, meaning that Oh is more favored by high-income families.