Incheon Mayor... Will Park Chan-dae Challenge Yoo Jeongbok? [2026 Local Election] ④

Yoo Jeongbok Steps Up Bid for Third Term as Incheon Mayor
Park Chandae's Candidacy Could Shift the Race
Attention on Park Namchun vs. Yoo Jeongbok: High School Alumni Rematch

Editor's NoteThe 9th local elections are scheduled for June 3 next year, just 10 months away. While this may seem like plenty of time, it is not. Behind the scenes, the local election race has already begun. The upcoming local elections are particularly noteworthy as they will be held only one year after the Lee Jaemyung administration took office. Key points of interest include how the current map of metropolitan mayors and governors-currently 11 for the People Power Party and 5 for the Democratic Party-will change, whether the Democratic Party will secure local power in addition to legislative and administrative control, and whether the People Power Party can hold onto Seoul. Asia Economy’s current affairs YouTube channel ‘Sisa Show’ has examined which figures are being mentioned as potential candidates for next year’s local elections: ① Seoul Mayor ② Gyeonggi Province Governor ③ Busan Mayor ④ Incheon Mayor

Recent election results indicate that Incheon Metropolitan City is a stronghold for the Democratic Party. In the 2024 general election, the Democratic Party won 12 out of 14 constituencies in the region. In the recent presidential election, President Lee Jaemyung received 51.67% of the vote, outpacing candidate Kim Moonsoo, who received only 38.44%, by more than 13 percentage points. This is the first time in Incheon’s presidential election history that a Democratic Party candidate has surpassed 50% of the vote. The gap was much wider than in the 2022 presidential election (Lee Jaemyung vs. Yoon Sukyeol), when the difference was only 1.9 percentage points. In the 2022 local elections, People Power Party candidate Yoo Jeongbok defeated Democratic Party candidate Park Namchun by more than 7 percentage points. However, at that time, the Yoon Sukyeol administration had been in office for less than three months. The situation is now reversed. Not only is the basic political landscape unfavorable, but with the Democratic Party in power for a year, the People Power Party faces a tense situation going into the local elections.

Lee Jaemyung Surpasses 50% of the Vote in Incheon for the First Time in Presidential Election History

Regarding next year’s Incheon mayoral election, attention is focused on whether Yoo Jeongbok, the incumbent Incheon mayor from the People Power Party, will seek a third term. No one has ever served three terms as Incheon mayor. Mayor Yoo won the election in 2014 by making the Incheon-bound KTX his top campaign pledge. However, he lost to former mayor Park Namchun in the 7th local elections in 2018, which took place after the impeachment of former President Park Geunhye. In 2022, three months after former President Yoon Sukyeol took office, Yoo faced Park again and avenged his previous defeat. If Mayor Yoo wins next year, he will become the first person to serve three terms as Incheon mayor.

Within the People Power Party, Mayor Yoo is the leading candidate. He has expressed his intention to seek a third term. At a press conference marking the third anniversary of the launch of the 8th popularly elected administration on July 1, he stated, “As the mayor responsible for the happiness and future of three million citizens, I feel a heavy sense of responsibility,” signaling his strong intention to run. At the event, Mayor Yoo highlighted his achievements, saying, “When I first became mayor of Incheon 11 years ago, I repaid 3.7 trillion won in debt. Since being elected in 2022, I have made significant progress in normalizing projects such as the Incheon-bound KTX, the development of Geomdan New Town, and the four-party negotiations for an alternative metropolitan landfill site in the capital area.” Recently, he has also been making more appearances on cable news channels, indicating a heightened focus on promotion.

Mayor Yoo Jeongbok Steps Up Promotion Efforts as He Seeks a Third Term

In addition to Mayor Yoo, Lee Hakjae, president of Incheon International Airport Corporation, is also being mentioned as a potential People Power Party candidate. Having served two terms as Seo-gu district mayor in Incheon, Lee was elected to the National Assembly three times for Incheon Seo-gu-gap. He lost to Mayor Yoo in the People Power Party primary in 2022. In June 2023, he was appointed president of Incheon International Airport Corporation for a three-year term. To run for mayor, he would need to resign at least three months before the election, so he must make a decision around the end of February next year. At a press conference on July 17, Lee stated, “Since the change of administration, there has been no external pressure for me to resign, nor should there be. The term of a public enterprise president must be guaranteed.” This suggests that he may be more focused on completing his term, which ends in June next year, rather than running for office.

<Expected Candidates for Incheon Mayor>

Who is being mentioned as the Democratic Party’s candidate to challenge Mayor Yoo Jeongbok? First, Park Chan-dae, a three-term lawmaker representing Incheon Yeonsu-gap who was defeated by Democratic Party leader Jeong Cheongrae at the August 2 party convention, is being discussed. Before deciding to run for party leader, Park reportedly considered whether to run for party leader or for Incheon mayor. Park is a key figure in the so-called “Shinmyeong” (New Myeong, newly formed Lee Jaemyung faction). Whether he runs or not could be a game-changer in the mayoral race. As of now, his candidacy appears highly likely.

Park Chan-dae Likely to Run; Kim Kyoheung and Park Namchun Also Expected to Challenge

Kim Kyoheung, also a three-term lawmaker representing Incheon Seo-gu-gap, is showing strong ambition. Kim ran in the 7th local elections in 2018 but lost to former mayor Park Namchun in the primary. During the last presidential election, he served as co-chairman of the Incheon joint election committee for the “Every Alley Campaign,” traveling throughout Incheon and expressing his determination to run for mayor. Kim has also served as Incheon’s deputy mayor for political affairs and as National Assembly Secretary-General, a ministerial-level position. Yu Dongsoo, a three-term lawmaker representing Incheon Gyeyang-gu-gap, is also reportedly interested.

Former Incheon mayor Park Namchun is also considered a strong potential candidate. During the last presidential election, he served as co-chairman of the Incheon joint election committee for the “Every Alley Campaign,” actively campaigning throughout the city. As a two-term lawmaker (Incheon Namdong-gu-gap) and former mayor, he has high name recognition. He is one year junior to Mayor Yoo Jeongbok at Jemulpo High School. If the two face off again next year, it would be their third contest in the 7th, 8th, and now the 9th local elections. Whether Park Namchun and Yoo Jeongbok will face each other again is one of the key points to watch in next year’s Incheon mayoral race. The names of two-term lawmakers Jeong Ilyoung (Yeonsu-gu-eul) and Heo Jongsik (Incheon Dong-gu Michuhol-gu-gap) are also being mentioned.

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Title: Asia Economy Current Affairs YouTube ‘So Jongseop’s Sisa Show’ (http://www.youtube.com/@sisa_live)

Broadcast: Monday to Friday, 4:00-5:00 p.m. Host: So Jongseop, Political Specialist. Producer: Lee Miri