"Up to 17 Mini General Elections" in June 3 By-elections... Opposition Parties Deliberate Response

The upcoming by-elections for National Assembly members, which will be held simultaneously with the 9th nationwide local elections on June 3, are shaping up to be on the scale of a "mini general election," with the number of races potentially reaching up to 17 constituencies.

According to the political community on April 13, five constituencies have so far been confirmed for by-elections: Gyeyang-gu Gap in Incheon, Ansan-si Gap and Pyeongtaek-si Eul in Gyeonggi Province, Gunsan-si·Gimje-si·Buan-gun Gap in North Jeolla Province, and Asan-si Eul in South Chungcheong Province. In addition, due to candidates running in the local elections, it is highly likely that by-elections will be held in five more constituencies: Buk-gu Gap in Busan, Yeonsu-gu Gap in Incheon, Hanam-si Gap in Gyeonggi Province, Nam-gu Gap in Ulsan, and Gunsan-si·Gimje-si·Buan-gun. Once the ruling and opposition parties finalize their nominations for the remaining local elections, the number of constituencies subject to by-elections could increase to as many as 17.

Jeong Cheong-rae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on April 13, 2026. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

원본보기 아이콘

The Democratic Party of Korea is expected to put forward new faces across the board. The party is making efforts to recruit Ha Jungwoo, Senior Presidential Secretary for AI Future Planning, for Buk-gap in Busan. Party leader Jeong Cheongrae also plans to meet Ha in person this week to request his candidacy. For Nam-gap in Ulsan, which is considered a challenging district, the party is planning to field its first high-profile recruit.

Young talent in their 40s with experience in the presidential office are also preparing to run. Kim Namjun, former presidential spokesperson (Gyeyang-eul), and Kim Namguk, former Digital Communications Secretary (Ansan-gap), are preparing for candidacy as well. However, discussions on forming alliances with the Democratic Party-affiliated and other progressive parties remain unresolved. The Progressive Party is demanding that Kim Jaeyeon, who is running in Pyeongtaek-eul, withdraw her candidacy as a precondition for unifying candidates for the Ulsan mayoral election.

In the People Power Party, former lawmaker Jang Sungmin has applied for nomination in Ansan-gap, while former lawmakers Yoo Eui-dong and Lee Jaeyoung have applied for nomination in Pyeongtaek-eul. Additionally, it is reported that former lawmaker Park Minsik and former KBS reporter Lee Youngpung are competing in Buk-gap. A representative from the People Power Party commented, "There is a prevailing sense that these are unwinnable races, so competitive candidates are reluctant to run."

Meanwhile, in Buk-gap, Busan, Han Donghoon, former party leader who was expelled from the People Power Party, is considering running as an independent. If additional by-elections arise during the Daegu mayoral primary, attention is on whether Lee Jinsook, former chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission, will be reassigned as a candidate for the People Power Party.

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.