Ruling party rides early momentum as key battlegrounds take shape

From left, Chong Won-o, the Democratic Party of Korea’s candidate for Seoul mayor; Rep. Choo Mi-ae, the party’s candidate for Gyeonggi governor; and Rep. Park Chan-dae, the party’s candidate for Incheon mayor, pose during a meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Sunday. Yonhap

With about 50 days remaining until the June 3 local elections, the ruling and opposition parties are moving at different speeds in preparing for the vote.

While the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has finalized candidates in key regions and shifted into campaign mode, the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) is still working through delays and internal friction in several races.

This difference in pace is beginning to define the broader contours of the election, although major battlegrounds remain unsettled.

According to sources in political circles, candidates from both major parties have now been confirmed in five of the 16 metropolitan races, including those in Incheon, Gangwon, Ulsan, South Gyeongsang and Busan.

In several other regions, nominations are in their final stages, with parties expected to finalize their lists in the coming days.

The DPK has taken the lead in this process. It has either confirmed or is close to finalizing candidates in major regions, in some cases opting for single nominations to avoid prolonged primaries.

Rep. Choo Mi-ae, the party’s candidate for Gyeonggi governor, said she plans to form an “inclusive election committee” to bring together different factions, signaling an effort to consolidate support early.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, a People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor, attends the party’s second televised primary debate at a Channel A studio in Seoul, Friday. Joint Press Corps

The PPP, by contrast, is relying on incumbents in many regions but has yet to settle candidates in others.

In Gyeonggi Province, the party has extended its candidate search after failing to settle on a viable contender. The decision has triggered backlash within the party. One official called it “bizarre and hard to understand.”

Several regions are likely to carry outsized weight.

Seoul, which has a large share of swing voters, is widely seen as a bellwether. Incumbent Mayor Oh Se-hoon is expected to secure the PPP nomination, setting up a likely contest with former Seongdong District chief Chong Won-o of the DPK.

Busan is another closely watched race, with a matchup already set between the incumbent PPP mayor and a DPK challenger. While the city has long leaned conservative, the result will depend on whether that base remains intact.

Daegu, long regarded as a conservative stronghold, is also drawing attention.

The DPK has already nominated former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, while the PPP is still in the middle of a crowded primary.

Disputes over the nomination process have added tension, with some within the party warning that “internal divisions and weak candidates could end up handing the race to the opposition.”

Changes are also visible in lower-level races. In Seoul, more than half of the city’s 25 district chiefs have either been replaced or are facing contested primaries, raising the prospect of a significant reshuffle at the local level.

Only one metropolitan race remains without confirmed candidates from both major parties — the newly created Gwangju-South Jeolla integrated city.

The election will choose the first head of the new municipality set to launch in July, following the passage of a special law last month.

In the DPK, Rep. Min Hyung-bae and South Jeolla Gov. Kim Young-rok are set to face off in a runoff from Sunday to Tuesday, while the PPP has opened candidate recruitment, with former party chairman Lee Jung-hyun and Gwangju party chief Ahn Tae-wook entering the race.

Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon, front, and Rep. Chun Jae-soo attend a ceremony marking the opening of the Mandeok-Centum expressway in Busan, Feb. 9. Newsis