"All they do is fight. The disappointment is beyond words." — Busan resident surnamed Kwon
At Gupo Market in Busan's Buk-gu district on its regular market day on the 3rd, voices haggling over vegetable and fish prices filled the stalls — but the moment politics came up, faces of vendors and shoppers hardened. Citizens encountered at the market, on the streets, and in residential neighborhoods unanimously said, "The conservatives are failing to do their job." Even among those who said they had voted conservative their entire lives, remarks such as "Maybe I should vote for the ruling party this time" and "I'd rather not vote at all" could be heard alongside resignation.
Busan, along with Daegu, is considered one of South Korea's most reliably conservative regions. In the three general elections held over the past decade, the conservative bloc won 45 of Busan's 54 constituencies. In the 2024 general election, the Democratic Party of Korea secured just one seat. In local elections too, aside from 2018, the Busan mayoral seat has remained in conservative hands since 2014. The cracks in voter sentiment now being detected on the ground cannot be dismissed lightly, observers say.
Kang, 47, whom this reporter met near Busan City Hall in Yeonje-gu, said, "I have never once cast a ballot for the progressive camp, but this time I'm truly torn." He added, "Normally I would have already decided on a candidate by now, but right now it's exactly 50-50." He acknowledged that "having worked in real estate for a long time, I genuinely find it hard to warm up to the Democratic Party," but added, "The disappointment with the conservatives is too great. I'm starting to think maybe I should give the ruling party — which has the backing of the government — a chance."
Another citizen surnamed Kang, 45, who said he voted for incumbent Busan Mayor Park Heong-jun in the last mayoral election, said he is closely watching the Democratic Party candidate this time around. "I voted for Mayor Park because I thought a former university professor from this area would know Busan well, but I never got the impression he was an outstanding administrator," he said. "His decision to run for mayor again doesn't come across as genuine commitment to Busan, either." He then asked rhetorically, "Rep. Jeon Jae-su, who is mentioned as a Democratic Party candidate, has his controversies, but hasn't there been no court verdict on the matter yet?"
There was also considerable frustration that despite the conservative bloc's long dominance of regional politics, the quality of life residents actually experience has barely improved. Busan's gross regional domestic product (GRDP) growth rate last year was 0.5%, down 2.2 percentage points from the previous year and only half the national average of 1.0%. Per capita GRDP has also lingered near the bottom among regions, prompting observations that Busan's status as Korea's "second city" is no longer what it once was.
The mood was not much different even in traditionally staunch conservative neighborhoods. A clothing shop owner near Dongmae Station in Saha-gu, a district with a high elderly population ratio, said, "I've lived 77 years and the economy right now is truly the worst." She added, "The ruling party just relies on its numbers and does whatever it pleases. What's the point of having a ruling party and opposition? I don't think voting will change my life."
Jeon, 63, encountered at Gupo Market in Buk-gu, raised his voice, saying, "They can't even clean up the so-called 'Yoon Again' faction and are destroying the conservative movement by squabbling among themselves." He added firmly, "But I have not the slightest intention of voting for the Democratic Party. I simply won't vote in this mayoral election at all." Disappointment with the conservatives and rejection of the Democratic Party are operating simultaneously.
Indeed, on the ground it was clear that frustration with the People Power Party does not automatically translate into support for the Democratic Party. Taxi driver Park, 72, met on this day, said, "When I talk politics with people around me, there's a shared sense that the People Power Party shows none of the qualities of an opposition party that can keep the ruling party in check." Yet he added, "Still, this is Busan, and I can't warm up to the Democratic Party handing out cash benefits ahead of elections. In the end, I'll probably vote People Power Party."
Among younger voters, a current prioritizing practical benefits over party or ideology was also detected. Kim, 24, met near Yeonsan Station in Yeonje-gu, said, "Just look around here — apartment buildings keep going up." He added, "Whoever wins, I want to elect a mayor who will sincerely address youth employment, housing, and daily-life issues."
For the Busan mayoral race, the People Power Party has incumbent Mayor Park and Rep. Ju Jin-woo (Busan Haeundae-gap) already in the primary contest. On the Democratic Party side, Rep. Jeon (Busan Buk-gap) and former Busan party chapter chairman Lee Jae-sung are competing.
