Seoul: Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon announced on Saturday that he will not be participating in the upcoming June 3 presidential election, offering an apology for the "failure" of the previous administration under former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Oh made his decision public at the headquarters of the conservative People Power Party in western Seoul. The announcement came as a surprise to many who anticipated his candidacy following the ousting of Yoon due to a failed attempt to impose martial law in December.

During his announcement, Oh expressed a deep sense of responsibility and disappointment over the impeachment of Yoon, a president from his own party. "To restore the abnormal back to normal, I will be the priming water, like a soldier without a rank," he stated, emphasizing his commitment to address the issues left by Yoon's presidency. Oh also apologized for the disruption in state affairs and the disappointment caused to the public, asserting that the entire party shares the responsibility for the previous administration's shortcomings.

Oh urged his party members and other presidential candidates to prioritize economic growth and the welfare of the underprivileged. He pledged to support initiatives aimed at forming a new government aligned with these objectives. Notably, several conservative figures have already declared their candidacies for the forthcoming election, including former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo and former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon.