With the June 3 Busan mayoral election approaching, voter sentiment appears split with no clear direction, clouding the outlook. The contest is taking shape as a clash between calls for a change in government and appeals for conservatives to unite, with televised debates and the Buk-gu Gap by-election emerging as key variables.
Democratic Party candidate Jeon Jae-su and People Power Party candidate Park Hyung-joon plan to face off in at least three TV debates before Election Day: May 12 on Busan MBC, May 19 on KNN and May 27 on Busan KBS. The only official debate hosted by the election commission is the KBS event. Both camps say additional debates remain possible if requested. With both sides already trading sharp attacks over pledges and Park’s record at City Hall, the debate performances are seen as a potential late decider.
On the ground, views are sharply divided. In a recent field report by Aju Business Daily in parts of Haeundae and Buk districts, some residents argued it is time for change, saying, “I’ve voted conservative for 75 years, but now feels like the time to change,” and “The People Power Party doesn’t seem sorry to the public.” Some voters also voiced expectations for Jeon, saying they had heard “Jeon Jae-su gets things done.”
Others cited uneven policy focus and weak communication. A self-employed man in his 30s who runs a private academy in Dongnae District said, “With policies centered on Haeundae, other areas feel left out,” explaining his support for Jeon. Another office worker said a ruling-party candidate could have an advantage “considering cooperation with the central government,” pointing to the value of alignment.
At the same time, calls for conservative unity remain strong. Some residents said Park “ran city administration smoothly” during his term, backing a stability argument. Many also raised allegations that Jeon accepted money, with comments such as, “He should have cleared that up before running,” and “Because of that, it’s hard to support him.” Among older voters, the view that “Busan should vote for the People Power Party” was still evident.
The split is reflected in polling. In a survey commissioned by KBS Busan, Jeon had 40% support and Park 34%, a tight race within the margin of error, making the outcome difficult to predict.
The Buk-gu Gap by-election is also drawing attention. High-profile politicians, including Han Dong-hoon, the former People Power Party leader, have joined campaign stops, potentially boosting turnout and influencing the mayoral race. One voter said the by-election would bring them to the polls and that they would vote in the mayoral contest as well, adding, “I think I’ll end up voting for the conservative candidate.”
Visits by senior figures from both parties are also intensifying the campaign, as they fan out across Busan to rally support and frame local issues in national political terms.
With debates, possible spillover from the by-election and an all-out push by national party leaders, the Busan mayoral race is expected to remain a close contest through the final days.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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