The Democratic Party achieved a decisive victory in the local elections and National Assembly by-elections held on June 3, without any surprises. The People Power Party had hoped for a last-minute rallying of support, aided by former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye campaigning for them, but failed to turn the tide. This outcome is seen as a boost for the administration of President Lee Jae-myung, marking its first year in office.
In this election, the Democratic Party was expected to sweep the metropolitan area’s local government positions and demonstrated strong support even in the conservative stronghold of Yeongnam. The party attributed this success to high approval ratings for President Lee Jae-myung. Cho Seung-rae, the party's secretary-general, held a briefing at the National Assembly's counting center around 10 p.m., stating, "We asked the public to support the president during the election process, and they responded positively."
Conversely, the People Power Party had expressed optimism that conservative voters would unite for a close contest, but they appeared shocked as the results came in. Following the exit polls, the party leadership has not issued any significant statements regarding the election results. Earlier, Jang Dong-hyuk, the party leader, left the counting center without making any comments. The atmosphere in the counting center was filled with sighs and silence.
As of 11:50 p.m., the People Power Party was leading in the conservative strongholds of Gyeongbuk and Gyeongnam, but was trailing in other regions. In Daegu, known as a conservative bastion, the race remained competitive.
During the election campaign, the People Power Party attempted to criticize the Lee Jae-myung administration by mentioning the special prosecutor law regarding the cancellation of charges, but their efforts did not resonate with voters. Consequently, calls for the resignation of Jang Dong-hyuk's leadership are expected to intensify.
Regarding the election results, Eom Kyung-young, director of the Era Spirit Research Institute, told Aju Economy, "With no nationwide elections for the next two years, it is akin to giving a blank check to President Lee and the Democratic Party," adding that it reflects public sentiment allowing the ruling party to govern as it sees fit. He emphasized that it could also be viewed as a judgment on the regressive actions of Jang Dong-hyuk and the People Power Party.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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