With the June 3 local elections next year approaching in about five months, the candidate pools for the 17 metropolitan and provincial mayoral positions from the ruling and opposition parties are beginning to take shape. The Democratic Party aims to recapture key regions such as Seoul and Busan through an “insurrection frame,” while the People Power Party is strategizing to defend as many positions as possible by forming an “anti-Lee Jae-myung front.”
◇Capital Region
The biggest battleground is Seoul. Amid Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon’s bid for a second term, Rep. Na Kyung-won is weighing a run. In the Democratic Party, Reps. Kim Young-bae, Park Joo-min, Park Hong-geun, Seo Young-kyo, and Jeon Hyun-heui have already declared their candidacies or are planning to run. Former Reps. Park Yong-jin and Hong Ik-pyo, and Chong Won-o, mayor of Seongdong-gu, are also expected to announce their bids soon. Rebuilding Korea Party leader Cho Kuk faces strong internal pressure to run, while former Progressive Party Rep. Lee Sang-gyu has decided to join the race.
In Gyeonggi Province, Democratic Party Governor Kim Dong-yeon is seeking re-election, with Reps. Kim Byung-joo, Choo Mi-ae, and Han Jun-ho among the potential candidates. Rep. Kwon Chil-seung will soon declare his candidacy, and several former lawmakers, including Yang Gi-dae, are also being mentioned. The Progressive Party, the fastest among parliamentary parties to finalize its candidate, has confirmed Hong Sung-gyu, its senior spokesperson. The People Power Party is considering former Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Moon-soo as a candidate, while former Reps. Shim Jae-cheol, Won Yu-cheol, and Yoo Seung-min are also contemplating runs.
In Incheon, People Power Party Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok is aiming for a third term. Within the party, Lee Hak-jae, president of Incheon International Airport Corporation, and Reps. Bae Joon-young and Yoon Sang-hyun are expected to challenge him in the primaries. The Democratic Party has seen Rep. Jeong Il-young declare his candidacy, while Reps. Kim Kyo-heong and Park Chan-dae, former Mayor Park Nam-chun, and former Rep. Lee Seong-man are coordinating their announcement timelines.
◇Yeongnam Region
The People Power Party swept all five metropolitan and provincial mayoral positions in the Yeongnam region during the 2022 local elections. The Democratic Party aims to win at least two of these conservative strongholds, including Busan and South Gyeongsang Province, in next year’s elections. The People Power Party maintains that it “cannot afford to lose a single seat.”
In Daegu, potential People Power Party candidates include Reps. Kim Sang-hoon, Yoo Young-ha, Yoon Jae-ok, Joo Ho-young, Choi Eun-seok, and Choo Kyung-ho, along with former Chairwoman of the Korea Communications Commission Lee Jin-sook. In the Democratic Party, former Rep. Hong Ui-rak has expressed his intention to run, with calls growing for former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum to join the race.
In North Gyeongsang Province, People Power Party Governor Lee Cheol-woo has hinted at a third-term bid despite battling cancer, while Reps. Song Eon-seog and Im I-ja are preparing to run. Other potential candidates include Reps. Kim Seok-ki, Kim Jung-jae, and Lee Man-hee, former Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Choi Gyeong-hwan, Supreme Council member Kim Jae-won, Uiseong County Mayor Kim Ju-su, and Pohang Mayor Lee Kang-deok. The Democratic Party’s potential candidates are Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kwon Oh-eul, former Andong Mayor Kwon Young-se, and former Cheong Wa Dae senior secretary Oh Jung-gi.
Busan, the second-largest battleground after Seoul, sees People Power Party Mayor Park Heong-joon pursuing a third term, with Reps. Kim Do-eup, Lee Hun-seung, and Jo Kyung-tae potentially challenging him. The Democratic Party’s potential candidates include Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Chun Jae-soo, former Busan Party Chair Lee Jae-sung, and former Rep. Park Jae-ho.
In Ulsan, People Power Party Mayor Kim Doo-gyeom has announced his re-election bid, with Reps. Park Seong-min and Seo Beom-su among the potential candidates. The Democratic Party is considering presidential secretary Lee Sun-ho, former Mayor Song Cheol-ho, and former Ulsan Party Chair Sung In-su.
In South Gyeongsang Province, People Power Party Governor Park Wan-su is expected to seek re-election, with Rep. Kim Tae-ho and former Reps. Kim Sung-tae and Jo Hae-jin also being mentioned. The Democratic Party’s potential candidates include Kim Kyung-soo, head of the Local Era Committee, and former Governor Kim Doo-kwan, who are likely to face off in the primaries.
◇Honam Region
Intra-progressive competition is expected to intensify in the Democratic Party’s strongholds of Gwangju, South Jeolla, and North Jeolla. In Gwangju, Democratic Party Mayor Kang Gi-jung is firmly pursuing re-election, with Reps. Min Hyung-bae and Jeon Joon-ho, Buk-gu District Mayor Mun In, and former Rep. Lee Byung-hoon declaring their intentions. Former Rep. Lee Hyeong-seok is also considering a run. The Rebuilding Korea Party is considering floor leader Seo Wang-jin, while the People Power Party is eyeing Gwangju Party Chair Ahn Tae-uk and former Dongnam District Party Chair Park Eun-sik.
In South Jeolla, Democratic Party Governor Kim Young-rok has already declared his bid for a third term. Reps. Shin Jeong-hoon and Lee Gae-ho, and Ju Cheol-hyeon are either running or planning to do so soon. The People Power Party is considering former Representative Lee Jung-hyun and South Jeolla Party Chair Kim Hwa-jin.
In North Jeolla, Democratic Party Governor Kim Kwan-young is seeking re-election. Rep. Kim Yun-duk, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Rep. Chung Dong-young, Minister of Unification, are being urged to run by their allies. Other potential candidates include Reps. Ahn Ho-young and Lee Won-taek, and Iksan Mayor Jeong Heon-yul. The People Power Party is considering former Reps. Lee Yong-ho and Jeong Un-cheon.
◇Chungcheong Region, Gangwon, and Jeju
In Daejeon, People Power Party Mayor Lee Jang-woo is aiming for re-election, with former Reps. Yoon Chang-hyun and Lee Eun-kwon, and Daedeok District Party Chair Park Kyung-ho as potential rivals. The Democratic Party has Reps. Jang Jong-tae and Jang Cheol-min, and former Mayor Heo Tae-jeong preparing to run. Reps. Park Beom-kye and Jo Seung-rae, and former National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug are also being mentioned.
In Sejong, People Power Party Mayor Choi Min-ho is certain to seek re-election. The Democratic Party is considering former Mayor Lee Chun-hee and former Vice Mayor of Economy Jo Sang-ho. Rebuilding Korea Party Rep. Hwang Un-ha is also contemplating a run.
In South Chungcheong, People Power Party Governor Kim Tae-heum is pursuing a second term. The Democratic Party’s potential candidates include Reps. Moon Jin-seog, Park Soo-hyun, Bok Ki-wang, and Eoh Ki-kyu, with former Governor Yang Seung-jo announcing his intention to run. There are also discussions about recruiting Office of the President Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik.
In North Chungcheong, People Power Party Governor Kim Young-hwan has expressed his intention to seek re-election, with Chungju Mayor Jo Gil-hyeong officially declaring his candidacy. Reps. Eom Tae-young and Lee Jong-bae are also being mentioned. The Democratic Party’s potential candidates include former Reps. No Young-min and Do Jong-hwan, and Vice Chair of the Presidential Committee for Decentralization and Balanced Development Shin Yong-han.
In Gangwon, People Power Party Governor Kim Jin-tae is seeking re-election, with Reps. Yoo Sang-beom, Lee Yang-soo, and Lee Chul-gyu weighing bids. The Democratic Party is considering presidential senior secretary for political affairs Woo Sang-ho and former Governor Lee Kwang-jae.
In Jeju, Democratic Party Governor Oh Young-hun is likely to pursue re-election. Former Rep. Moon Dae-rim, Rep. Wi Seong-gon, and former Rep. Song Jae-ho are also potential candidates. The People Power Party is considering Jeju-eul District Party Chair Kim Seung-wook, former Korea Asset Management Corporation President Moon Sung-yu, and former Jeju Party Chair Jang Seong-cheol.
