Credit: Public domain.
The next national election will be the Local Elections 지방선거 in June 2026, and as usual, the biggest prize is the mayorship of Seoul 서울 - the “Junior Presidency 소통령”, as it is often jokingly called.
According to the October 10-11 poll by Chosun Weekly 주간조선, the incumbent O Se-hun 오세훈 led the field of prospective mayors in favorability, with 25%. Democratic Party Assembly Member Park Ju-min 박주민 민주당 국회의원, who has already declared his candidacy for the office, was the leading liberal candidate with 12%. People Power Party legislator Na Gyeong-won 나경원 국민의힘 국회의원, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok 김민석 국무총리, and former Justice Minister Cho Kuk 조국 전 법무부장관 rounded out the field with 11%, 9% and 8%, respectively.
But O’s current lead may be more of a reflection of the fact that the Democratic Party 민주당 has yet to present a unified ticket. In a October 13-14 poll by Newstomato 뉴스토마토, 50.8% of Seoul voters said they opposed O’s re-election. Hypothetical head-to-head races between O and several liberal candidates all showed differentials within the margin of error.
