Democratic Party "Avenge Presidential Election Defeat" vs People Power Party "Regain Local Power"

Presidential Election 2nd Round and Local Elections D-30
Clash Intensifies Amid Confirmation Hearings

The status board installed at the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission in Jongno-gu, Seoul, shows D-30 as the 8th nationwide local elections approach in 30 days on the 2nd. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] The June 1 local elections are just 30 days away. Held just over two months after the March 9 presidential election, these elections are seen as a second round of the presidential race. As a result, the confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties is intense. The People Power Party, which regained power after five years, aims to leverage its momentum to reclaim local authority. On the other hand, the Democratic Party seeks to avenge its presidential election defeat and regain leadership. With the passage of the "Geomsu Wanbak (complete removal of prosecutorial investigation rights)" amendment and the schedule of ministerial nominee confirmation hearings coinciding, the ruling and opposition parties are expected to engage in extreme confrontations throughout May.

The Democratic Party and the People Power Party have finalized all 17 candidates for metropolitan and provincial governors running in the local elections. Most of the 226 candidates for city, county, and district heads, 824 candidates for metropolitan and provincial council members, and 2,927 candidates for basic council members have also been decided. After submitting candidate registration applications to the National Election Commission on June 12-13, the official election period will begin on the 19th.

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 2nd and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

The most notable battleground is the Gyeonggi Province governor election. Recent polls show a close race between Kim Dong-yeon of the Democratic Party and Kim Eun-hye of the People Power Party. Kim Dong-yeon is supported by Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party’s senior advisor, while Kim Eun-hye served as the spokesperson for President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol, making the Gyeonggi governor race a contest between "Yunshim (Yoon’s support)" and "Ishim (Lee’s support)."

Regarding the June 1 local elections, the leadership of both parties has already launched an all-out campaign. The People Power Party appointed floor leader Kwon Seong-dong and former floor leader Kim Gi-hyeon as co-chairs of the election committee today. Party leader Lee Jun-seok will serve as the standing election committee chair and plans to campaign alongside local candidates, similar to the presidential election.

Regarding the Geomsu Wanbak legislation, Lee warned, "The legislative coup that betrayed public sentiment will end with the Democratic Party being completely crushed in the local elections, a ‘Jimin Wanbak’ (complete defeat of the Democratic Party). The Democratic Party’s outrage will surely come at a great cost, and this local election is the first judgment arena."

Yun Ho-jung, Co-Chair of the Emergency Response Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea, is adjusting his glasses after finishing his speech at the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 2nd. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

The Democratic Party also faces the risk that if defeated, the backlash from the unilateral passage of the Geomsu Wanbak bill will significantly influence the flow of the party’s August leadership election. Yoon Ho-jung, the Democratic Party’s emergency committee chairman, emphasized at today’s emergency committee meeting, "We will approach the people through innovative local autonomy. We will protect local autonomy and people’s livelihoods from the autocracy of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration."

By-elections held simultaneously with the local elections have been confirmed in seven districts (Daegu Suseong-gu B, Incheon Gyeyang-gu B, Gyeonggi Bundang-gu A, Gangwon Wonju-si A, Chungnam Boryeong-si Seocheon-gun, Gyeongnam Changwon-si Uichang-gu, Jeju Jeju-si). There is speculation in political circles that Ahn Cheol-soo, chairman of the Presidential Transition Committee, may run in Gyeonggi Bundang, and Lee Jae-myung may run in Incheon Gyeyang, raising the possibility of a high-profile match akin to a presidential-level contest.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.