Seoul Mayoral Election: Democratic Party Makes Bold Move for Comeback Victory After the 24th

Kim Min-seok, Head of Department, "Expecting Changes in the Situation After the 24th"
First Verification Stage Since Inauguration Will Also Have an Impact

Song Young-gil, the Democratic Party of Korea's candidate for Seoul mayor, holds a press conference for the launch of the UN 5 Headquarters Attraction Committee at the National Assembly Communication Hall on the 6th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] The Democratic Party of Korea is aiming for a 'comeback victory one week before' in the upcoming Seoul mayoral election in June with their candidate Song Young-gil. They argue that the convention effect of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration in its early term is diminishing, and as issues such as security and policies come under scrutiny, these changes will also impact the ruling party's candidate.

On the 17th, Kim Min-seok, co-chief of the election countermeasures committee and concurrently the standing head of the Democratic Party's Seoul regional headquarters, met with our reporter at the National Assembly and commented on the Seoul mayoral election landscape: "One week after the inauguration, following visits to Gwangju and Bonghwa Village (May 18) and the Korea-US summit (May 21), there will be a primary evaluation on whether the candidate is effectively responding to the North Korean security crisis and the livelihood crisis. At that time, the overall election landscape will be adjusted." He added, "There has been a recovery in party support within a short period after the presidential election."

The day before, Kim stated, "With pressing real issues such as the relocation of the Yongsan office, I believe the approval ratings of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration and the ruling party will return to pre-inauguration levels." He continued, "A close chase will begin, and we expect changes in the election landscape after the 24th. At that time, we anticipate not just overtaking but a 'chase and comeback'." He also emphasized that candidate Song has stronger policy competitiveness than candidate Oh. Regarding real estate, he explained, "As full policy verification begins and if the issue of the Yongsan office relocation continues, the gap with Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate, will narrow further." He also revealed plans to hold a 'comeback rally' in front of Seoul Station on the 26th to coincide with this period.

Previously, after declaring his candidacy for Seoul mayor, Song Young-gil faced strong opposition within the party. However, after some twists and turns, he was selected as the Democratic Party candidate on the 29th of last month and began competing against candidate Oh. Recently, the party has started to provide policy support for Song. The day before, the party announced it would push forward the pledge proposed by Song to raise the comprehensive real estate tax threshold for multi-homeowners as a party policy.

Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor, is delivering opening remarks at the Kwanhun Debate held at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 17th. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group

However, the reality makes it difficult to expect a surprise. In various recent polls, candidate Song is trailing candidate Oh by more than 20 percentage points. According to a Seoul mayoral election poll conducted by Gallup Korea from the 13th to 14th among 1,001 men and women aged 18 and over residing in Seoul, candidate Oh led with 56.5%, ahead of candidate Song's 31.4% beyond the margin of error. (Telephone interviews via mobile and landline, sample error at 95% confidence level, maximum ±3.1 percentage points.) Therefore, even if a major change does not occur, the Democratic Party's strategy is to narrow the gap between the two candidates as much as possible to create a favorable overall election landscape.

The People Power Party responded to the Democratic Party's stance by calling it "wishful thinking." On the same day, Oh Shin-hwan, head of the comprehensive situation headquarters of Oh Se-hoon's election camp, said in a phone interview, "There is no basis to say that the convention effect of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration will disappear within a short period without any major issues favorable to the Democratic Party." Regarding candidate Oh's competitiveness, he said, "The reason Oh has significantly higher support compared to other regions is due to his personal ability and qualities, as well as the lingering memory of the election a year ago." He also criticized Song's real estate pledge, saying, "Suddenly proposing a pledge that the Democratic Party did not previously support will not change the approval ratings."