As South Korea braces for the June 3, 2026 local elections, political maneuvering is intensifying in the Gyeonggi Hanam-gap district—a seat now expected to be up for grabs after Democratic Party lawmaker Chu Mi-ae was tapped as her party’s candidate for Gyeonggi Province governor. The resulting by-election has become a focal point for speculation, especially around whether former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, a prominent figure in the conservative People Power Party (PPP), will throw his hat into the ring.
The Hanam-gap district, bordering Seoul and seen by many as a bellwether for metropolitan sentiment, has captured national attention. In the 2024 general election, Chu Mi-ae narrowly defeated Lee Yong, a former PPP lawmaker and close aide to ex-President Yoon Suk-yeol, by just 1.17 percentage points. Now, with Chu expected to vacate the seat by April 30, 2026, the stage is set for a fiercely contested by-election running concurrently with the local polls.
Within the PPP, the search for a candidate with broad appeal has proven challenging. According to JTBC, the party has struggled to find a strong contender, with some even floating Yoo Seung-min’s name for Hanam-gap after he refused repeated requests to run for Gyeonggi governor. The party’s senior spokesperson, Park Seong-hoon, told reporters on April 15, 2026, “In the capital region, victory hinges on expanding our appeal to moderates and having competitive candidates. In that regard, former lawmaker Yoo is an excellent candidate we could put forward.”
Park continued, “If former lawmaker Yoo would agree to run in the by-election, he could serve as a catalyst for our local election victory. The party believes his participation would be a significant boost.” However, he also acknowledged that the district already has dedicated party members who have been working hard locally, and that the nomination committee would make the final decision. “There are candidates who have quietly cultivated the constituency, and we trust the nomination committee will make a rational decision,” Park added, as reported by Newsis and Kyunghyang Shinmun.
Despite the buzz, Yoo Seung-min himself has maintained a cautious distance. Speaking to Donga Ilbo on April 15, he clarified, “The party has never requested that I run in the by-election.” His aides have echoed this sentiment, telling JTBC and Segye Ilbo that Yoo has not discussed Hanam-gap and is not currently considering a run. One aide stated, “There has been no mention of Hanam-gap, nor any request from the party. He is not thinking about running in this election.”
In fact, Yoo has been consistent in rejecting overtures to run for Gyeonggi governor, emphasizing that his focus lies elsewhere. As Segye Ilbo reported, Yoo said, “My remaining political mission is entirely about how to rebuild the conservative party, which has been completely devastated.” This sense of mission has kept him from pursuing other offices, at least for now.
Still, some in the PPP see Yoo’s potential candidacy as a game-changer. The Hanam-gap seat is not just any district—it carries significant symbolic weight, given Chu Mi-ae’s stature as a six-term lawmaker and former Democratic Party leader. The possibility of reclaiming the seat with a nationally recognized figure like Yoo has fueled ongoing debate. “If Yoo runs, it could have a positive effect not just on Hanam-gap, but on the entire Gyeonggi election landscape,” a PPP official told Donga Ilbo. Because Hanam-gap borders Seoul, some believe a strong performance could even ripple into the Seoul mayoral race.
Nevertheless, the party faces internal tension over candidate selection. Lee Yong, who lost narrowly to Chu in 2024, has expressed a strong desire to run again. Alongside him, other local figures such as Lee Chang-geun, the Hanam district party chief, and lawyer Kim Ki-yoon are being considered. According to Donga Ilbo, “Current PPP potential candidates for Hanam-gap include Lee Yong, Lee Chang-geun, and Kim Ki-yoon.” The party’s nomination committee is expected to weigh the merits of fielding a well-known national figure against rewarding loyal local candidates.
Meanwhile, rumors have swirled about Yoo Seung-min’s intentions, prompting clarifications from those close to him. On April 16, 2026, Yoo Ui-dong, a former PPP lawmaker considered close to Yoo, dismissed the speculation in an interview with News1 and Channel A, saying, “This news is far from the facts.” He added, “Given that Yoo refused to run for Gyeonggi governor, I think he will judge this issue in the same light.” However, some party insiders have suggested that while Yoo has declined to run for a provincial post, he might be more open to a parliamentary by-election if formally requested by party leadership.
In the background, the Reform Party is also making moves. According to JTBC, the party has announced plans to field candidates in both Hanam-gap and Pyeongtaek districts. They are reportedly trying to persuade former lawmaker Cho Eung-cheon to run for Gyeonggi governor, signaling a broader strategy to capitalize on the current political fluidity.
The Democratic Party, for its part, is not standing still. With Chu Mi-ae’s departure, the party is expected to field a strong candidate to defend the seat, though the field remains open. In neighboring Ansan-gap, the presence of high-profile Democratic lawmaker Kim Nam-guk has made the contest there equally heated, with three preliminary PPP candidates vying for a chance to challenge him.
Yoo Seung-min’s own words highlight the complexity of his position. As reported by Segye Ilbo, an aide said, “If the party requests, Yoo will consider it seriously.” But another close associate cautioned, “There has been no request from the party, and the possibility of the leadership asking is currently low. Yoo is not at the stage of reviewing a run.”
As the clock ticks down to the official campaign period, the PPP faces a delicate balancing act: Should it attempt to draft a nationally recognized figure like Yoo Seung-min to maximize its chances in a high-stakes district, or should it stick with loyal local candidates who have invested years in the community? The answer may depend on whether party leadership decides to make an official overture to Yoo—and whether he, in turn, feels the moment is right to return to the electoral fray.
For now, all eyes remain on Hanam-gap, where political fortunes could turn on a single decision. The coming weeks will reveal whether the PPP can resolve its internal dilemmas and present a united front, or whether the uncertainty will hand an advantage to its rivals. Either way, the Hanam-gap by-election promises to be a defining contest in South Korea’s 2026 political landscape.