Oh Se-hoon (; born 4 January 1961) is a South Korean politician and lawyer who has served as the mayor of Seoul since 2021, an office he previously held from 2006 to 2011. A member of the People Power Party, he served as a member of the National Assembly from 2000 to 2004.
He is Catholic Church and his baptismal name is Stephen.
During his tenure, Oh was involved with the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture, participating in a celebration video for the organization alongside foundation chairman Park Bum-shin and Seoul Arts Director Ahn Eun-mi.
In the 2020 legislative election at the Gwangjin District, he lost to Ko Min-jung, a political newcomer.
He began his third term on 8 April 2021. In September 2023, Oh met with the mayor of New York City, Eric Adams in Manhattan, to deepen the cultural and economic ties between Seoul and New York City. This was his first official trip representing Seoul on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting.
Dongdaemun Design Plaza was constructed during his tenure.
From 2006 to 2011, Oh announced that he would make Seoul a city of water, and carried out the Han River Renaissance project to build riverside bike paths and Sebitseom on the southern bank of the Han by Banpo Bridge.
Because he had initiated so much water-related initiatives, when severe floods occurred in 2011, 2022 and 2023, he was criticized with a nickname of Oseidon, a combination of his name and Poseidon.
When asked about the Seoul Queer Culture Festival during the 2021 Seoul mayoral race, Oh has stated: "In a broader spectrum, the principle is that the rights of minorities, including sexual minorities, must be protected and there should be no discrimination. I of course agree that discrimination must be prohibited. But I think the debate was on the queer festival being held in the central area near City Hall and Gwanghwamun Square, and the city of Seoul has a special committee to make a decision, and there are rules to that as well. This is an issue to be decided with usage rules of the City Hall square, and this is not something that a mayor can individually decide."
Oh in 2022 said Seoul may prohibit the Seoul Queer Parade from using the city hall plaza if participants "exhibit indecent materials or overexpose their bodies."
In 2024, the Seoul Queer Parade was denied permission to gather at Seoul Plaza. Municipal authorities cited a book related festival as reason for the denial.
16th General Election | 2000 | Member of National Assembly from Seoul Gangnam District B | Hannara | 64,516 | 59.39% | Won |
4th Local Election | 2006 | Mayor of Seoul | Hannara | 2,409,760 | 61.05% | Won |
5th Local Election | 2010 | Mayor of Seoul | Hannara | 2,086,127 | 47.43% | Won |
20th General Election | 2016 | Member of National Assembly from Seoul Jongno District | Saenuri | 33,490 | 39.72% | Lost |
21st General Election | 2020 | Member of National Assembly from Seoul Gwangjin District B | United Future Party | 51,464 | 47.80% | Lost |
By-election | 2021 | Mayor of Seoul | People Power Party | 2,798,778 | 57.50% | Won |
8th Local Election | 2022 | Mayor of Seoul | People Power Party | 2,608,277 | 59.05% | Won |
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