Democratic Party Sweeps Local Elections; Opposition Angrily Calls for Vote to Be Invalidated

[Financial News] With the political landscape already tilted toward the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) after the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol and the launch of the Lee Jae-myung administration, there were no major surprises in the June 3 local elections based on exit polls. Exit polls from KBS, Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), and Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) suggested that the DPK could win every metropolitan and provincial governor race except in North Gyeongsang Province. The polls also indicated that most superintendent of education races could go to progressive candidates.
According to the three broadcasters' exit polls released on the 3rd, the People Power Party was clearly ahead only in the race for North Gyeongsang Province Governor candidate Lee Cheol-woo. In the remaining metropolitan and provincial races, the DPK was either far ahead or in a close contest. The DPK was also leading in many superintendent races. The margin of error was within a 95% confidence level, at ±1.7 to 4.1 percentage points, with races decided by 3.4 points or less classified as too close to call.
In the Seoul metropolitan area, DPK candidate Jeong Won-oh led People Power Party candidate Oh Se-hoon by 5.4 percentage points, 51.4% to 46.0%, in the Seoul mayoral race. In Gyeonggi Province, DPK candidate Choo Mi-ae dominated People Power Party candidate Yang Hyang-ja, 60.4% to 34.1%. In Incheon Metropolitan City, DPK candidate Park Chan-dae also led People Power Party candidate Yoo Jeong-bok, 53.7% to 45.5%.
In the Seoul mayoral race, the People Power Party argued that the election should be invalidated after some polling stations ran short of ballots, causing delays. Citing the Public Official Election Act, the party said a rerun should be held. Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok also visited the National Election Commission (NEC) in person to lodge a protest.
In the Chungcheong region, Daejeon and Sejong mayoral candidates Heo Tae-jeong and Jo Sang-ho of the DPK led People Power Party candidates Lee Jang-woo and Choi Min-ho by wide margins, with 55.9% and 64.3% against 42.9% and 32.9%, respectively. In South Chungcheong and North Chungcheong governor races, DPK candidates Park Soo-hyun and Shin Yong-han were ahead of People Power Party candidates Kim Tae-heum and Kim Young-hwan, 52.1% to 47.9% and 56.2% to 43.8%, respectively.
In the Yeongnam region, DPK candidate Kim Sang-wook for Ulsan mayor was far ahead of People Power Party candidate Kim Doo-gyum, 52.8% to 43.2%. In South Gyeongsang Province, DPK candidate Kim Kyoung-soo also beat People Power Party candidate Park Wan-su by nearly 10 percentage points, 54.3% to 45.7%. The North Gyeongsang governor race had such a large gap that Lee Cheol-woo of the People Power Party was effectively certain to win from the early stages of the count.
In Honam, DPK candidate Min Hyung-bae for the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Metropolitan City mayoral race was so far ahead that victory was considered a foregone conclusion early in the count. In North Jeolla Province, exit polls showed DPK candidate Lee Won-taek leading independent candidate Kim Kwan-young by just 2.2 percentage points, 48.5% to 46.3%, making it a tight race. In Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, DPK candidate Wi Seong-gon also posted a wide lead and was quickly projected to win.
The remaining races for governor of Gangwon Province and for mayor of Daegu and Busan were projected to be close contests between DPK and People Power Party candidates. In Gangwon Province, a conservative stronghold, DPK candidate Woo Sang-ho and People Power Party candidate Kim Jin-tae were expected to be locked in a race decided by just 2.6 percentage points, 51.3% to 48.7%.
The most notable races were in Daegu and Busan, two cities traditionally known for strong conservative support. In Daegu, DPK candidate Kim Boo-kyum was projected to receive 49.1%, while People Power Party candidate Choo Kyung-ho was at 49.9%, a razor-thin gap of 0.8 percentage points. In Busan, DPK candidate Chun Jae-soo was forecast to edge People Power Party candidate Park Heong-joon, 50.2% to 48.3%, a margin of 1.9 percentage points.

uknow@fnnews.com Kim Yun-ho Reporter