Oh Se-hoon and Han Dong-hoon Meet at Condolence Visit, Promise Official Meeting
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon ran into each other on the afternoon of the 2nd at the funeral home for the father of Rep. Kim Sung-won of the People Power Party, where they exchanged words to the effect that they should hold an official meeting soon. The two met at the funeral hall at Korea University Anam Hospital in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, where a mourning altar had been set up for Rep. Kim's father. According to officials present, the two said things like, "We keep running into each other at funeral homes, but it's been a while since we met on official business," and "Let's have an official meeting soon." Their last publicly known meeting was at the 10th Korea Future Innovation Forum seminar, "America's Grand Strategy and Korea's Choice," held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on August 25.
On the 25th of last month, appearing on KBS, Rep. Han said of Mayor Oh, "He is a very reasonable person, and someone we should join forces with and move forward together with for the victory of the conservative camp," adding, "I have never let go of his hand." Mayor Oh also said on TV Chosun's "Strong Rivals" on the 31st of last month, "Not only Rep. Han Dong-hoon but also Chairman Jang Dong-hyuk — there is no one I cannot meet, and no one I cannot join forces with." Mayor Oh's position as a leading contender in the conservative camp has gained further weight after he was acquitted in the appellate ruling of his political funds law case last month.
Against this backdrop, the two have public schedules at the National Assembly at similar times on the upcoming 3rd. Mayor Oh will attend the forum "World Heritage Preservation and the Future of Cities: Finding a Path to Coexistence," hosted by the People Power Party's Seoul City Chapter and the Seoul Metropolitan Government, at the National Assembly Members' Office Building at 10 a.m. Rep. Han will hold a seminar titled "Party Reform: What to Do and How," together with People Power Party lawmakers Kim Ki-hyun and Yoon Sang-hyun at the same building 30 minutes earlier, at 9:30 a.m., where agendas such as an upward-selection primary system will be discussed. People Power Party Chairman Jang Dong-hyuk will also hold a press conference at the National Assembly at 11 a.m. the same day to announce the "Five Key Resolution Budgets." With the schedules and movements of Mayor Oh, Rep. Han, and Chairman Jang overlapping, attention is expected to focus on whether the three will make contact and on the movements of People Power Party lawmakers.
