Seoul: South Koreans participated in pivotal local elections on Wednesday, marking a significant test for President Lee Jae Myung as he enters his second year in office. This election serves as the first nationwide evaluation of support for Lee's administration since he assumed office in June 2025 following the ousting of former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the National Election Commission (NEC) reported that by 2 p.m., 21.83 million voters, accounting for 48.9 percent of the 44.64 million eligible voters, had cast their ballots at 14,288 polling stations across the nation. The voting commenced at 6 a.m. and was scheduled to continue until 6 p.m. Additionally, 10.5 million voters had already participated in early voting sessions last week.
The early voting turnout reached a historic high of 23.51 percent, fueling expectations that the overall turnout might exceed 60 percent. Early voting figures will be incorporated into the overall tally starting at 1 p.m. The elections are critical as they involve 16 mayoral and gubernatorial posts, 16 education superintendent seats, 227 local government heads, and approximately 4,000 local council members.
Fourteen parliamentary seats in by-elections are also being contested, with significant attention on races in Incheon, Gyeonggi Province, Daegu, and Busan. Political parties have urged citizens to exercise their voting rights to shape the country's future. Jung Chung-rae, leader of the ruling Democratic Party (DP), emphasized the power of voting as a constitutional right and a tool for change.
Meanwhile, Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), criticized President Lee's administration, urging voters to counter what he described as Lee's "arrogance and unchecked abuse of power." The PPP leader also labeled the government's economic policies as failures.
President Lee, in a social media message, highlighted South Korea's potential to become a leading nation, urging citizens to cast their votes for competent leaders. Initially aiming for a decisive victory, the DP now views six out of the 16 key races, including the Seoul mayoral race, as highly competitive.
The Seoul mayoral contest is anticipated to be a major battleground, with incumbent Mayor Oh Se-hoon of the PPP and DP candidate Chong Won-o in a closely contested race. The capital region, home to nearly half of the country's population, is a crucial battleground in these elections.
In the parliamentary by-elections, the Buk-A constituency in Busan is closely watched, with Ha Jung-woo, former presidential secretary to Lee, facing former PPP leader Han Dong-hoon and former PPP lawmaker Park Min-shik. Surveys indicate a tight race between Han and Ha, while Park lags behind.
The DP, bolstered by President Lee's approval ratings and its parliamentary majority, aims to maintain its seats to fortify its legislative agenda. Conversely, the PPP seeks to consolidate conservative support amid declining public backing and internal divisions following Yoon's failed martial law attempt in December 2024. The conservative party previously won 12 out of 17 major positions in the 2022 local elections.