The Democratic Party achieved a majority victory in the June 3 local elections and by-elections, emphasizing issues like the impeachment of the president. However, the party lost control of the capital city, Seoul, and suffered defeats in four by-elections, leading to claims of a "half-hearted victory." This has intensified factional conflicts as the party prepares for its upcoming leadership contest.
According to political sources on June 7, some party members are criticizing the leadership of Jung Cheong-rae, while others argue that the impact of the special prosecutor law pushed by pro-Lee Jae-myung factions and the president's strong real estate regulations played significant roles in the election outcomes.
Kim Yong, a former deputy head of the Democratic Research Institute and a close aide to President Lee, expressed his dismay on Facebook on June 6, stating, "I was left speechless watching the local election results unfold. Jung's perception that this election was a nationwide victory for the Democratic Party, while the loss in Seoul is painful, reflects a disconnect from public sentiment."
He added, "Now is not the time to celebrate a victory with a tally of 12 to 4. The heavy responsibility for strategic failures and absence must be shouldered by the party leadership, including the party leader."
On the same day, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok addressed the KBC '2026 New Honam Forum' in Gwangju, stating, "Some view the election results as a victory, while others see them as insufficient. We must transform the tension following the election into an opportunity for innovation by firmly grasping two clear paths forward."
However, some lawmakers believe it is unfair to place the blame for the loss in Seoul solely on Jung. They argue that the public's anger over real estate issues and the backlash from the special prosecutor law, which granted authority to dismiss charges, cannot be overlooked.
During the election period, President Lee demonstrated a strong commitment to real estate regulations and pushed for a national investigation into alleged election manipulation led by pro-Lee factions. Following the introduction of the special prosecutor law related to incidents involving President Lee, the opposition party, People Power Party, formed a coalition to resist what they termed the "disregard for the public's judgment."
Additionally, there have been criticisms that the government and ruling party politicized the controversy surrounding the May 18 Tank Day. People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk countered during the campaign by promoting the idea of "freedom for a cup of coffee."
In response, Senior Spokesperson Kang Jun-hyun held a press conference, stating, "There may be differing opinions, and we will establish an evaluation committee that includes internal and external experts to conduct a thorough analysis."
Meanwhile, some analysts interpret the current factional competition within the Democratic Party as intensifying ahead of the August party convention. Jung is reportedly seeking re-election, while Prime Minister Kim is expected to resign from his position to pursue party leadership. Former party leader Song Young-gil, who recently re-entered the National Assembly through the by-elections, is also mentioned as a potential candidate for party leader.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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