Rival Parties Intensify Battle to Reclaim or Defend 16 Metropolitan Leadership Posts

Seoul, PK, and TK Races Too Close to Call
Even Democratic Stronghold North Jeolla in Jeopardy

On June 3, the 9th nationwide simultaneous local elections will see the ruling and opposition parties clash over the 16 metropolitan mayoral and governor posts. While the central government and the National Assembly are controlled by the Democratic Party of Korea, the local governments still show a structure where the People Power Party holds the upper hand. This reflects the results of the most recent election, the 8th local elections in 2022, which took place right after the inauguration of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, leading to a landslide victory for the People Power Party.

However, the June 3 local elections will be held at a time when President Lee Jaemyung’s approval rating for state affairs is hovering around 60%. Both inside and outside the political sphere, it is widely assessed that local election outcomes are closely linked to presidential approval ratings. The Democratic Party is aiming to reclaim the metropolitan governor and mayor positions currently held by the People Power Party. Having completed its candidate nominations early, there was even speculation at one point that the party could sweep 15 out of 16 regions except North Gyeongsang Province. However, as the election campaign intensifies, the People Power Party is inevitably reorganizing its local organizations and rallying its support base. Indeed, major regions are expected to see fiercely contested races. In Seoul, the PK region (Busan, Ulsan, South Gyeongsang), and Daegu, candidates from both parties are engaged in neck-and-neck battles within the margin of error.

From the Democratic Party’s perspective, Seoul is a region they are desperate to reclaim. It carries symbolic significance in determining the outcome of the election and can serve as a foundation for the party to secure a solid grip on national politics. Gyeonggi Province and Incheon are currently showing relatively favorable trends for the party. Should they also reclaim Seoul, it could generate a sweeping victory across the greater Seoul metropolitan area. Another concern for the Democratic Party is the political stronghold of Honam, particularly North Jeolla Province, where the situation is becoming increasingly unpredictable. Kim Kwan-young, an independent candidate who was expelled from the Democratic Party, is locked in a close contest within the margin of error with Lee Wontak, the Democratic Party candidate. As a result, Han Byungdo, the party’s floor leader whose constituency is Iksan in North Jeolla, is visiting the region daily to rally the organizational vote.

The People Power Party is engaged in fierce defensive battles not only in Daegu but also throughout the Yeongnam region, including Busan and Ulsan. The party is also concerned about the dispersal of its internal leadership. By nominating many incumbent metropolitan mayors and governors, the party is relying heavily on the individual political skills of these candidates. Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, plans to launch full-scale support for the election, starting with the Chungcheong region, which is his political base.

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