Oh Se-hoon, who resigned as Seoul mayor in 2011 and has since stayed out of the public eye, recently resumed work as a counsel attorney of a large local law firm.

The 52-year-old signed a contract in mid-February with Daeryook & Aju, one of the top 10 local law firms.

His remuneration is not as high as that of other staff attorneys, but he will lead an ordinary life as a practicing lawyer, an aide to Oh said.

Oh resigned as Seoul mayor in August 2011, after losing a referendum that he called against the expansion of free school meals. He went to the U.K. in May 2012 to study at the School of Social Science and Public Policy at King’s College, then moved to Shanghai, China, to learn the Chinese language. He returned to Korea late last year.

The lawyer who graduated from Korea University was elected a lawmaker in 2000, and later elected and reelected Seoul mayor in 2006 and 2010, respectively.

By Chun Sung-woo (swchun@heraldcorp.com)