[6.1 Local Elections] Seoul Mayor and District Mayor Elections: 'Wind' or 'Organization'?

Over 30 Years of Local Elections, Mature Voters' Civic Awareness Rises; Voters Likely to Weigh 'Wind' and 'Organization' Factors Such as Political Stability, Judgment, Regional Development Potential, and Ties with Local Leaders When Voting

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] It is the historic day of the June 1 local elections.

Candidates for Seoul Mayor, 25 district heads, city councilors, and district councilors have shouted their support hoarsely during the 13-day official campaign period.

As voting begins simultaneously on the 1st, the candidates must humbly await the judgment of the people, the true owners.

This election marks the 8th term of direct local elections, celebrating over 30 years of local autonomy history in Korea. It has reached middle age. Accordingly, public awareness of local autonomy and elections has significantly increased.

In particular, Seoul citizens, as 'special citizens,' elect candidates responsible for their regions, including the Seoul Mayor who holds powerful authority with an annual budget reaching 50 trillion won, as well as 25 district heads, city councilors, and district councilors.

If People Power Party candidate Oh Se-hoon wins this mayoral election, he will become the first to serve four terms as a directly elected Seoul Mayor, positioning himself as a leading contender for the next presidential race.

On the other hand, Democratic Party candidate Song Young-gil is also expected to secure his status as a potential presidential candidate if he overcomes unfavorable conditions in various opinion polls.

Such is the gravity of elections; the judgment of the people is a daunting process that determines whether politicians 'live or die.'

Alongside this, the 25 district heads of Seoul hold significant positions, exercising personnel authority over 1,500 to 2,000 employees and managing regional projects worth hundreds of billions to trillions of won over four years.

In this weighty election battle, voters cannot help but deeply contemplate where to cast their precious vote.

Above all, voters ponder whether their single vote will contribute to 'political stability' or 'checks and balances.'

They will deliberate whether the candidate they choose will help stabilize the political or municipal administration or aid in checking power.

For this reason, candidates from the ruling People Power Party appealed, “Since the Yoon Seok-yeol administration has only been in office for three weeks, please support ruling party candidates to back a strong government.”

Conversely, candidates from the opposition Democratic Party and Justice Party urged, “Please vote for opposition candidates to check the government.”

However, this election, being early in the administration’s term, shows strong support for political stability in various opinion polls, making it difficult to deny that the ruling party holds an advantageous position.

Regional development aspirations also cannot be overlooked as an election variable. In Seoul, redevelopment and reconstruction issues are the top concerns, so voters will consider which candidate will best support development in their neighborhood.

For this reason, People Power Party candidates for Seoul district heads emphasized a 'one team' approach alongside Mayor Oh Se-hoon, reflecting this meaning.

They argued that being elected would allow them to coordinate with Mayor Oh from the same party to secure more budget and highlighted advantages in urban planning projects.

Lastly, candidates’ connections and 'organizations' will also be variables.

In the 7th term local elections, the Democratic Party won 24 out of 25 district heads in Seoul except Seocho District, so many people have ties with the local leaders over the past four years. Especially those active in neighborhood associations and government-affiliated organizations are expected to have an organizational advantage favoring Democratic candidates due to existing connections with local leaders.

However, the number of people working in Seoul district offices is estimated to be only 2,000 to 3,000, so in elections with hundreds of thousands of voters in Seoul’s autonomous districts, it is generally analyzed that such organizational influence is limited.

Most Seoul citizens do not have personal ties with specific district heads.

Considering these points comprehensively, it appears that in the end, the election will be influenced more by the 'wind' (public sentiment) than by 'organization.'

A Seoul city official said, “Ultimately, elections are about the wind,” adding, “Recent opinion polls on Seoul district head candidates show that the wind is ahead of organization. We must humbly observe the judgment results through the people’s vote.”

At 7:30 PM on the 1st, exit poll results from the three major terrestrial broadcasters will predict the winning possibilities of candidates for Seoul Mayor and 17 metropolitan mayors.

Seoul district heads’ races are expected to be decided by early morning on the 2nd due to many close contests.

The day when candidates’ fates are decided, whether to smile or cry, is approaching.

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