With the People Power Party confirming on the 2nd that Supreme Council member Yang Hyang-ja will run for Gyeonggi governor, the ruling and opposition slates for the June 3 local elections' metropolitan mayors and provincial governors are complete. In this local election, all incumbent metropolitan mayors and governors from the People Power Party survived nomination battles and are seeking another term, while all incumbents from the Democratic Party of Korea were eliminated. Only Kim Kwan-young, the North Jeolla governor expelled from the Democratic Party of Korea over allegations of paying proxy driving fees, is still weighing an independent bid.
◇ "Chu d'Arc" Choo Mi-ae vs. "high school graduate success story" Yang Hyang-ja
The People Power Party's central nomination management committee said on the 2nd that Supreme Council member Yang was chosen as the Gyeonggi governor candidate after defeating former MBC anchor Lee Seong-bae and former lawmaker Ham Jin-gyu. Yang is a self‑made figure who joined Samsung Electronics as a high school graduate and rose to the executive ranks. She entered politics in 2016 when former President Moon Jae-in, then leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, recruited her as female talent.
Yang, who clashed with the Democratic Party of Korea by opposing revisions to the Prosecutors' Office Act and the Criminal Procedure Act that would strip the prosecution of investigative powers, will face Democratic Party of Korea candidate Choo Mi-ae, a former chair of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee. From the Reform Party, Cho Eung-cheon is running for Gyeonggi governor. However, there is a possibility that Yang, a conservative bloc candidate, and Cho could pursue a single candidacy.
In Seoul, where the lineup was set earlier, incumbent Mayor Oh Se-hoon of the People Power Party will face Chong Won-o of the Democratic Party of Korea, a former Seongdong District chief. In Incheon, Yoo Jeong-bok of the People Power Party, seeking a third term, will run against Park Chan-dae, a former floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea.
In the four Chungcheong areas, Democratic Party of Korea candidates are challenging incumbent People Power Party governors. In North Chungcheong, Democratic Party of Korea candidate Shin Yong-han faces People Power Party candidate Kim Young-hwan; in South Chungcheong, Democratic Party of Korea candidate Park Soo-hyun faces People Power Party candidate Kim Tae-heum; in Daejeon, Democratic Party of Korea candidate Heo Tae-jeong faces People Power Party candidate Lee Jang-woo; and in Sejong, Democratic Party of Korea candidate Cho Sang-ho faces People Power Party candidate Choi Min-ho. In particular, in Kim Young-hwan's case, the party leadership initially cut him off, but after an injunction request and a rerun primary, he was finalized as the candidate.
◇ Incumbent opposition chiefs seek another term… formidable ruling party challengers
In Daegu, Democratic Party of Korea candidate Kim Boo-kyum, aiming to become the city's first Democratic mayor, will clash with People Power Party candidate Choo Kyung-ho, who secured the nomination after a fierce internal contest. In North Gyeongsang, Democratic Party of Korea candidate Oh Jung-gi has challenged People Power Party incumbent Lee Cheol-woo, who is seeking another term.
In Busan, People Power Party candidate Park Heong-joon, who is seeking a third term as mayor, faces Democratic Party of Korea candidate Chun Jae-soo, a former Minister of Oceans and Fisheries. Park, too, was initially marked for a cutoff by party leaders, but after twists and turns including a reversal, he was finally tapped as the nominee.
In Ulsan, Democratic Party of Korea candidate Kim Sang-uk, who switched parties after advocating People Power Party reforms following the Dec. 3 martial law, will face incumbent Mayor Kim Doo-kyum of the People Power Party. In South Gyeongsang, Democratic Party of Korea candidate Kim Kyeong-soo, a former governor, and incumbent Governor Park Wan-su of the People Power Party will wage a do‑or‑die battle for reelection.
In the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, which will elect its first mayor following an administrative merger, Democratic Party of Korea candidate Min Hyung-bae will face People Power Party candidate Lee Jung-hyun. In North Jeolla, Democratic Party of Korea candidate Lee Won-taek will compete with People Power Party candidate Yang Jeong-woo. Whether incumbent Governor Kim Kwan-young runs as an independent is cited as a variable.
In Gangwon, Democratic Party of Korea candidate Woo Sang-ho, who served as senior political secretary at the presidential office under the Lee Jae-myung administration, will face People Power Party candidate Kim Jin-tae, who is seeking a third term as governor. In Jeju, Democratic Party of Korea candidate Wi Seong-gon will face People Power Party candidate Moon Seong-yu.
◇ Party approval ratings shaped nomination outcomes… campaigning starts on the 21st
Analysts say the split in whether metropolitan chiefs were renominated for the June 3 local elections, depending on party affiliation, is closely tied to party approval ratings. With relatively higher approval, the Democratic Party of Korea pushed for turnover by fronting new faces, while with sagging approval, the People Power Party had to wage the campaign on candidate credentials by fielding heavyweight incumbents.
Another factor was that senior figures in the People Power Party were reluctant to run outside their traditional strongholds of Daegu and North Gyeongsang. The party leadership tried to recruit high‑profile politicians such as former Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Moon-soo and former lawmaker Yoo Seong-min as Gyeonggi governor candidates, but after both declined, the effort fell through. As a result, the Gyeonggi governor primary was delayed, and the candidate was finalized last.
For the June 3 local elections, candidate registration will take place on the 14th and 15th. Official campaigning will run for 13 days from 12 a.m. on the 21st until midnight on June 2, the day before the vote. Early voting will be held for two days on the 29th and 30th.