South Korea's Democrats Win 12 of 16 Local Races as Oh Se-hoon Holds Seoul
Updated
Updated · Reuters · Jun 4
South Korea's Democrats Win 12 of 16 Local Races as Oh Se-hoon Holds Seoul
3 articles · Updated · Reuters · Jun 4
Summary
Twelve of 16 major mayoral and provincial contests went to President Lee Jae Myung's Democratic Party, but opposition incumbent Oh Se-hoon secured another term as Seoul mayor in the election's biggest symbolic result.
Seoul's loss blunted an otherwise broad ruling-party sweep that included Busan, while giving the conservative People Power Party a crucial base as it tries to recover from former President Yoon Suk Yeol's 2024 martial law scandal and impeachment.
More than a dozen Seoul polling stations ran short of ballot papers, forcing some voters to wait for hours or leave without voting and delaying official confirmation of the mayoral result after protests blocked ballot transfers.
Lee ordered an accountability probe and safeguards, while the National Election Commission apologized and said the shortages did not justify delaying the election or holding a rerun.