Key facts
- The Democratic Party (DP) won 12 of 16 provincial governor races.
- The ruling People Power Party (PPP) candidate narrowly won the Seoul mayoral election.
- In parliamentary by-elections, the ruling party secured 9 out of 15 seats.
- The DP's performance represents a strong showing, though not a complete defeat for the PPP.
South Korea's Democratic Party (DP) achieved a significant victory in local elections, winning 12 out of the 16 provincial races. This outcome reverses the 15-2 sweep previously secured by the ruling People Power Party (PPP) in 2022. Despite the DP's strong performance in provincial contests, the incumbent PPP candidate narrowly defeated the DP candidate in the crucial battleground of the Seoul mayoral election. In concurrent parliamentary by-elections, the ruling party secured 9 out of 15 seats, while the PPP took 4. While the DP's overall showing is considered a strong win, it does not represent a complete rout for the PPP.