The June 3 local elections are just over 30 days away. Gyeonggi Province will see its first female-vs.-female race in the history of elected local government, while Seoul features a showdown between a record five-term candidate and a first-time challenger. In Busan, an opposition mayor seeking a third term will face off against the city's only ruling party lawmaker.
According to political sources on Tuesday, the People Power Party finalized Yang Hyang-ja as its Gyeonggi gubernatorial candidate the previous day, completing the candidate lineup for all 16 metropolitan-level races nationwide as the last to do so.
Gyeonggi Province has drawn keen attention as both the ruling and opposition parties have fielded female politicians. Whoever wins, Gyeonggi will welcome its first-ever female governor. The two candidates also present a sharp contrast in expertise and background. Choo Mi-ae, the Democratic Party candidate, is the longest-serving female lawmaker and a legal expert, while Yang, known for her "high school graduate success story," is an industry specialist who became the first female executive at Samsung Electronics.
In Seoul, People Power Party candidate Oh Se-hoon, aiming for an unprecedented fifth term as mayor, will face Democratic Party candidate Jeong Won-oh, a former district chief making his first bid for city leadership. Jeong is emphasizing the need for a fresh face, highlighting the administrative capabilities and community-focused policies he demonstrated as Seongdong district chief. Oh, meanwhile, is defending his ground with proven leadership, drawing on governance experience and continuity accumulated over four terms as mayor.
Busan is also shaping up as a fierce contest. People Power Party candidate Park Heong-jun is seeking a third term, with Democratic Party candidate Jeon Jae-soo mounting a strong challenge. Busan is traditionally a conservative stronghold, but Jeon proved his strength by planting the Democratic Party's flag in the only one of Busan's 18 constituencies the party won during the 22nd general election.
"These local elections carry symbolic records across various regions, making them a watershed that will go beyond simply electing administrators and significantly influence the future political landscape," a political source said.
