100 Days to Local Elections... Ruling Party "Coordination," Opposition Faces "Recruitment Woes"

Ruling Party Vows to "Oust Yoon's Kids and End the Rebellion"...Also Moves to Coordinate Candidates
Opposition Voices Concern Over a "2018 Again" Scenario

With 100 days left until the 9th Nationwide Local Elections on June 3, the ruling and opposition parties are accelerating their shift into election mode. The Democratic Party of Korea is stepping up its preparations with the goals of "ousting Yoon Suk Yeol's kids" and "ending the rebellion." The People Power Party is also trying to ready its election system amid internal strife over the so-called "cutting off Yoon" issue, but is struggling with recruiting candidates.

Jung Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at a Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on Feb. 13, 2026. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

The Democratic Party of Korea's Nomination Management Committee will conduct interviews and nomination screenings for candidates for metropolitan mayor and provincial governor at the party headquarters over two days starting on the 23rd. Party leader Jeong Cheongrae said, "We will punish the rebellious forces through victory in the local elections and restore the abnormality of the prosecution's dictatorial regime to normal." Cho Seungrae, secretary-general and head of the local election planning team, held a press conference the previous day and referred to the eight newly elected metropolitan heads from the People Power Party in the last local elections as "Yoon Suk Yeol's kids." He said, "This local election is an election to fully condemn the rebellion and to judge incompetent local authorities."

The Democratic Party of Korea is aiming to win 16 out of 17 metropolitan mayor and provincial governor posts, excluding only the governor of North Gyeongsang Province. Even in Daegu, which the party classifies as its toughest stronghold, it believes it can win if former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum runs as its candidate. In addition, the party plans to field candidates in all constituencies in the by-elections and rerun elections held alongside the local elections. In doing so, it has drawn a clear line with the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, which demanded that the Democratic Party of Korea not nominate candidates in the Pyeongtaek B constituency in Gyeonggi Province and the Gunsan constituency in North Jeolla Province, where rerun elections are being held due to the Democratic Party of Korea’s own fault.

Yonhap News Agency

The coordination of which ruling party figures will run for metropolitan mayor and provincial governor is also entering full swing. Representative Seo Youngkyo, who had been vying for the Seoul mayoral race, officially announced on the 23rd that she would not run. On the 22nd, Representative Kim Byungjoo, who had been seeking the Gyeonggi governor post, likewise declared he would not run.

The People Power Party is also hastening its transition to an election system, having launched its nomination committee last week, but is going through a rough patch due to ideological and policy line conflicts. In the greater Seoul metropolitan area (Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Province), which is the biggest battleground, there has not even been a notable official declaration of candidacy yet.

This contrasts with Daegu, the party’s stronghold, where eight contenders, including five incumbent lawmakers, are crowding the field. Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon appeared on CBS that day and expressed concern, saying, "Most experts believe that if there is no shift in the party line, the results may be similar to those of the 2018 local elections."

The People Power Party leadership is hinting at the possibility of a personnel overhaul. Party leader Jang Donghyuk also mentioned the need for a "new face," apparently targeting Mayor Oh. Lee Junghyun, chair of the nomination committee, said that day, "There will be dissatisfaction and strong criticism, but we must make decisions even if we are criticized."