With less than two months to go until South Korea's pivotal June 3, 2026 local and National Assembly by-elections, the political landscape is heating up with a flurry of candidate declarations, party maneuvering, and talk of unity—or fierce competition. This year’s elections, spanning over ten districts nationwide, have been dubbed a ‘mini general election’ by observers, thanks to the sheer number of high-stakes races and the heavyweight contenders involved.
On April 9, the race gained fresh momentum as Hwang Myung-pil, a former Supreme Council member of the Progressive Democratic Innovation Party, announced his candidacy for Ulsan mayor at the National Assembly Communication Office. Hwang’s message was clear: “The People Power Party must suffer a crushing defeat and disappear completely for common-sense conservatism to be rebuilt,” he declared, according to Newsis. He called for a broad unification of all reasonable democratic progressive forces in the Yeongnam region, emphasizing that, “To achieve the 'Zero People Power Party' goal set by our party, I have decided to run.”
Hwang framed the election as a historic duty, saying, “This election is about judging those involved in rebellion and eradicating People Power Party-style local politics that care only about construction, not citizens’ lives. Ulsan citizens must show their healthy common sense and pride.” He pledged to aggressively promote unity among democratic progressives and prove his suitability as a unified candidate, aiming to win a head-to-head match against the People Power Party. Drawing on his 25 years of dedication to the democratic camp—from grassroots activism to serving as senior supreme council member of the second opposition party—Hwang argued that his experience made him the right choice for voters seeking a unified front.
Meanwhile, in Busan, the Progressive Democratic Innovation Party’s local branch is methodically preparing for the elections, following a roadmap crafted last year. Jang Ji-yong, Secretary General of the party’s Busan branch, detailed their steady progress in an April 9 interview, noting positive results such as their candidate Jung Jin-baek’s strong second-place standing in a recent Gijang-gun mayoral poll. The survey, conducted on March 27-28 among 500 residents, found only a small gap between Jung and the leading Democratic Party candidate, suggesting real momentum for the party in the region.
Jang emphasized that the party’s detailed pledges—set to be unveiled in a joint press conference next week—will focus on making social rights like housing, healthcare, education, environment, and jobs concrete realities for citizens. “We believe social rights should not be charity, but rights for all citizens,” he said. The party is also championing a circular economy in Busan, aiming to ensure that jobs, income, and consumption all benefit the local community. Innovation, Jang stressed, means not just seeking the new, but reinterpreting and revitalizing declining industries with technology and fresh perspectives. “We are preparing practical, citizen-focused policies that people can feel in their daily lives,” he added.
Political reform is another key plank for the party. Jang explained that the party is advocating for expanding medium-large electoral districts and increasing proportional representation in the Busan City Council—changes that could allow smaller parties to gain a foothold and enhance democratic representation. “We are preparing candidates in anticipation of an increase in proportional representation seats and working on practical, citizen-focused policies,” he said, noting that the party is ready to adapt to any changes in the election laws or district boundaries.
At the national level, the question of unity and strategic cooperation between the Democratic Party and the Progressive Democratic Innovation Party is a hot topic. On April 9, Kim Young-jin, a Democratic Party lawmaker and Vice Chair of the Party’s Human Resources Recruitment Committee, told MBC Radio that if Progressive Democratic Innovation Party leader Jo Guk runs in a by-election, “partial concessions by the Democratic Party may be necessary to support unity and the success of the Lee Jae-myung government.” Kim clarified that such cooperation—including candidate unification—was one of several options being considered. He added that Jo Guk had made it clear he would not run in easily winnable areas, excluding the Honam region and the by-elections in Jeonbuk (Gunsan, Gimje, Buan) from his potential candidacy.
However, Kim was resolute that in Busan and Ulsan, the Democratic Party would “definitely run candidates,” emphasizing a strategy of fielding young contenders who symbolize generational change. As for the Ulsan Nam-gu Gap district, he noted that no final decision had been made and new figures were still under consideration. This approach suggests that while unity is a watchword, competition remains fierce in key battlegrounds.
Further illustrating the competitive environment, Democratic Party spokesperson Kim Nam-guk officially declared his candidacy for the Gyeonggi Ansan-gap by-election at a press conference on April 9. The seat was vacated when Yang Moon-seok lost his position after a fraud conviction. Responding to rumors of Jo Guk’s possible candidacy in the same district, Kim said, “If competition is unavoidable, we must compete based on ability,” even while expressing personal respect for Jo. Kim also pushed back against the Progressive Democratic Innovation Party’s call for the Democratic Party to refrain from fielding candidates in districts where by-elections are triggered by its own members’ wrongdoing, arguing, “Withholding candidates could harm responsible politics.”
Nationally, the June 3 elections are shaping up to be a political showdown of rare intensity, with more than ten by-elections held alongside the local races. According to Chosun Ilbo, former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon is considering a run in Busan Buk-gap, recently meeting with former MP Seo Byung-soo to discuss candidacy and potential cooperation. The Democratic Party is weighing the possibility of fielding AI Future Planning Chief Ha Jung-woo in the same district, setting the stage for a high-profile contest. President Lee Jae-myung even joked about the attention Ha is receiving, saying, “Someone seems to be working on recruiting him. We can’t let that happen.”
Elsewhere, Jo Guk is reportedly considering a run in Gyeonggi Hanam-gap, a challenging district held by Democratic Party’s Chu Mi-ae, who won by just 1,200 votes in the last election. The Democratic Party’s Kim Nam-guk, meanwhile, is up against multiple strong contenders in Ansan-gap, including former National Assembly member Jeon Hae-cheol and possibly Kim Yong, former deputy head of the Democratic Research Institute. In Ulsan, the Democratic Party is considering new faces for the Nam-gu Gap district, with no final candidate selected yet.
As the campaign season intensifies, parties are racing to finalize their candidates and platforms, balancing calls for unity with the realities of political rivalry. With heavyweight figures like Jo Guk, Han Dong-hoon, and Kim Nam-guk entering the fray, and both established and upstart parties vying for influence, voters are set for a dramatic and consequential election season.
The coming weeks promise more twists and announcements, but one thing is certain: South Korea’s June 3 elections will be anything but ordinary, with the nation’s political future hanging in the balance.