508 Elected Without Voting in June 1 Local Elections... Concerns Over Entrenchment of Two Major Regional Parties

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] A total of 508 candidates were elected without voting in the June 1 local elections.

According to the National Election Commission on the 1st, 6 heads of districts, cities, and counties, 108 regional metropolitan council members, 294 regional basic council members, 99 proportional basic council members, and 1 education council member were elected without voting. This is the largest scale ever. Compared to 89 in the local elections four years ago, it has increased fivefold.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Previously, in local elections, 494 candidates were automatically confirmed elected without voting due to running unopposed. Since then, the number of uncontested elected candidates has increased through candidate registration withdrawals and invalid registrations.

Six basic local government heads were elected without voting, all from Daegu, Gyeongbuk, or Honam regions. In three places?Jung-gu and Dalseo-gu in Daegu, and Yecheon-gun in Gyeongbuk?the People Power Party candidates were elected uncontested, while in three places?Haenam-gun and Boseong-gun in Jeonnam, and Gwangsan-gu in Gwangju?the Democratic Party candidates were elected uncontested.

Among the 108 uncontested regional metropolitan council members, 61 were Democratic Party candidates and 47 were People Power Party candidates. Similarly, uncontested regional metropolitan council members mainly came from Daegu, Gyeongbuk, or Honam regions.

Among the 294 uncontested regional basic council members, 162 were Democratic Party candidates and 132 were People Power Party candidates. Separately elected proportional basic council members included 99 uncontested candidates, with 55 from the Democratic Party and 44 from the People Power Party.

The sharp increase in uncontested elected candidates can be interpreted as the two major parties, based on their respective regions, becoming more entrenched.

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