Democratic Party of Korea primary candidates vying for the Gyeonggi Province governor nomination in the June 3 local elections engaged in a fierce last-minute battle for votes. The main primary result, contested by three candidates, will be announced on the afternoon of the 7th, with observers saying a runoff between the top two candidates is likely.
The Democratic Party leadership, including Chairman Jeong Cheong-rae, held an on-site supreme council meeting in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on the 6th to support the Gyeonggi governor race. Jeong stressed, "Korea can only prosper when Gyeonggi Province prospers." Lawmakers Han Jun-ho and Choo Mi-ae, along with Gyeonggi Governor Kim Dong-yeon — listed in ballot order — also attended to reaffirm their commitment to winning the local elections. Voting in the main primary, which began on the 5th, closes on the afternoon of the 7th.
The three candidates kept each other in check until the final stretch. Governor Kim targeted Choo on CBS Radio that day, calling her "someone who should do politics in Yeouido," adding, "What Gyeonggi Province needs is not someone who plays politics and fights, but someone who works." Choo wrote on her social media the previous day, "What matters is not flashy rhetoric but action and innovation," saying, "I am the innovative leader who has served across the legislative, judicial and executive branches, understands the national system, and has coordinated with relevant stakeholders." Lawmaker Han expressed confidence, saying, "I recorded an overwhelming second place in the preliminary primary. I will carry that momentum into the runoff and make sure to overturn the result."
If a candidate secures a majority in the main primary, the nomination is confirmed outright. However, the prevailing view inside and outside the party is that this is unlikely given the current dynamics. A runoff between the top two will be held from the 15th to the 17th. It uses the same formula as the main primary — a 50-50 combination of party member votes and public opinion polls.
The Democratic Party's Seoul mayoral primary also begins on the 7th. Voting runs through the 9th, and if no candidate wins a majority, a runoff between the top two (17th–19th) will follow. Lawmaker Park Joo-min attacked that day, saying, "Candidate Jeong Won-oh's camp is distributing promotional materials that arbitrarily manipulate opinion poll results," calling it "a clear violation of the Public Official Election Act." Jeong's camp countered, "There is no falsehood or distortion prohibited by election law."