Seoul: Preliminary candidate registration began Tuesday for the June 3 local elections that will pick metropolitan mayoral and gubernatorial posts, a vote widely seen as a gauge of the public's view of President Lee Jae Myung's first year in office. At stake are the seats for mayor and governor in 17 metropolitan cities and provinces, along with superintendents of education, chiefs of smaller administrative units, and local council members.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the upcoming local elections are regarded as a litmus test of the Lee administration and a measure of public sentiment for the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) following former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law crisis. The ruling Democratic Party (DP) aims to secure a landslide victory in the elections by emphasizing public backlash against Yoon's short-lived imposition of martial law in 2024.

The government and the DP are advocating for the merger of cities and provinces, a strategy they believe could garner support in both swing regions and traditionally conservative areas, including Daegu and Busan in the southeast. However, an internal conflict over DP leader Jung Chung-rae's proposal to merge with the minor Rebuilding Korea Party might complicate matters for the party.

Meanwhile, the PPP is focusing on what it describes as the government's policy failures, including those related to housing and livelihood. Observers note that the PPP may face challenges in securing support not only from centrist voters but also from conservatives, amid ongoing tensions over Yoon's martial law attempt.

The National Election Commission stated that South Korean nationals aged 18 and above are eligible to register as preliminary candidates. Registered preliminary candidates have the right to open campaign offices, distribute name cards, and wear campaign sashes. Official candidate registration is scheduled for May 14-15.