Seoul ¨C South Korean President Lee Jae Myung¡¯s party won a resounding victory in key local elections across the country, piling pressure on opposition conservatives even as a setback in the Seoul mayoral race signaled the limits of its appeal.
Lee¡¯s Democratic Party clinched 12 of 16 major posts in elections held Wednesday for provincial governors and mayors, according to data from the National Election Commission. That marked a reversal from four years ago and left the opposition People Power Party only able to secure Seoul after a highly contested vote and the traditionally conservative city of Daegu, as well as surrounding Gyeongsang provinces.
The DP victory symbolizes the strength of Lee¡¯s popularity. It also highlights how the PPP is struggling to rebuild itself after a disastrous attempt to impose martial law by its former leader, President Yoon Suk Yeol. After that short-lived fiasco, he was impeached in December 2024, ultimately paving the way for Lee¡¯s rise to power.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.