Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok launched his bid for an unprecedented third term on Tuesday, three months ahead of the June 3 local elections.
If successful, Yoo would become the first directly elected mayor in Incheon's history to serve three terms.
Yoo served three terms as a National Assembly member representing Gimpo and held cabinet positions as Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries under President Lee Myung-bak and Minister of Public Administration and Security under President Park Geun-hye. He led Incheon during the 6th popular election term (2014-2018) and the current 8th term (2022-2026).
At a book launch for his autobiography "I·MAGAZINE" held at Seonhak Gymnasium in Incheon on Tuesday, Yoo declared, "Korea's dream and Incheon's development cannot stop here." He added, "I will run toward the future hand in hand with three million Incheon citizens."
Political heavyweights from Seoul and Incheon gathered for the event. Former Deputy Prime Minister Hwang Woo-yea and lawmakers Na Kyung-won, Bae Jun-young, and Yoon Sang-hyun took the stage. Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo and Reform Party leader Lee Jun-seok sent video messages of support. Local party chapter heads from Incheon filled the seats.
Lee Jun-seok's appearance drew attention. While his Reform Party maintains distance from the People Power Party at the national level, the message suggested room for cooperation in Incheon.
Yoo highlighted achievements from his two terms under the banner of "Incheon Transformation." These include attracting the Incheon High Court, Maritime Court, and Overseas Koreans Agency, securing designation as a national high-tech strategic industry complex for biotechnology, launching underground conversion projects for the Gyeongin Railway and Expressway, and reducing tolls on Yeongjong and Incheon bridges. He also unveiled a vision to develop Incheon into a global city.
The mayor outlined his political philosophy, calling for unity-based politics, constitutional reform toward decentralization, enactment of a Free Market Economy Basic Act, and substantive reorganization of local administrative systems.
On the same day, the Democratic Party of Korea confirmed Rep. Park Chan-dae (Incheon Yeonsu-gap, third term) as its candidate for Incheon mayor. The race is now set as a high-profile showdown between an incumbent seeking a historic third term and a former floor leader of the opposition party.