The Democratic Party of Korea said on the 12th regarding Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's unexpected announcement not to run for president, "It is a natural decision, and to run for president under the name of a treasonous party is absurd."

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon holds a press conference on the morning of Dec. 12 at the National Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, declaring his intention not to run for president. /Courtesy of News1

Spokesperson Ahn Gyu-ryeong noted through a written briefing that "Mayor Oh's declaration not to run shows clearly the posture the People Power Party should have in the presidential election. The treasonous party should not mock the public and admit that it is unqualified to run for president."

Spokesperson Ahn said regarding Mayor Oh's statement at the non-candidacy press conference, "I will serve in the army to normalize the abnormal," that "the abnormality in South Korea started with Yoon Suk-yeol and Kim Keon-hee," adding, "The way to correct the abnormality is to judge the People Power Party, which colludes with treason and continues to defend Yoon Suk-yeol."

He pointed out regarding Mayor Oh's comment, "How will the fact that our party has entered the presidential phase and that everyone is declaring themselves presidential candidates look in the eyes of the public, as if nothing happened after the impeachment decision?" that it was "a painful rebuke to the presidential candidates of the People Power Party."

Spokesperson Ahn pointed out that "Mayor Oh should first undergo a prosecutor's investigation related to the Myung-tae-kyun Gate."

Earlier, Democratic Party lawmaker Choo Mi-ae wrote on her Facebook, "Myung-tae-kyun is indeed formidable. Now, the candidate of a treasonous party is being sorted out," while lawmaker Park Hong-geun also stated, "If you sincerely reflect on the failures of the Yoon Suk-yeol regime, you should resign from the mayoral position and sincerely engage in the investigation of the Myung-tae-kyun Gate."