The snap election, scheduled for June 3, follows the Constitutional Court of Korea's unanimous decision last week to impeach Yoon over his botched martial law debacle late last year.
Oh made the announcement just one day before he was expected to declare his presidential bid. Speaking at the People Power Party (PPP) headquarters in western Seoul, he said he “will not join” the race and called on his party to transform into one that can “win the hearts of the people.”
“I will support a candidate who shares my values and help restore strong conservative leadership,” Oh added. Oh’s decision is expected to shake up the PPP, where he had been seen as one of the most competitive contenders, particularly among moderates and swing voters.
Following his withdrawal, some have begun calling for acting Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to consider running, which could further expand the list of candidates. Former party leader Han Dong-hoon and former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo have already declared their candidacies, and both released brief statements showing respect for Oh’s decision.
Meanwhile, the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) is also gearing up for the race, with former party leader Lee Jae-myung, former Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon, and former DP lawmaker Kim Du-kwan have all declared their presidential bids.
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