Lawmakers attend a plenary session of the National Assembly during an extraordinary February session in Seoul, Feb. 12, as members of the People Power Party (PPP) boycott the meeting. The PPP skipped both the plenary session and standing committee meetings to protest judicial reform bills passed by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee a day earlier. Yonhap
As the Lunar New Year holiday ends, Korea’s political parties are shifting into full campaign mode for nationwide local elections in June, sharpening strategies based on voter sentiment and accelerating preparations for candidate nominations.
The elections will be the first nationwide vote since President Lee Jae Myung took office last year and are widely viewed as an early test of his political momentum — one that could help determine control of the national agenda in the years ahead.
Both the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) are activating internal election committees and refining campaign messages, even as each grapples with internal tensions that could complicate plans.
The DPK said public sentiment over the holiday underscored demand for political reform and relief from everyday economic strains. Party officials said they would anchor their campaign around those themes.
DPK leaders said reform legislation — including bills tied to changes in the judiciary — would remain a priority during February’s extraordinary parliamentary session. Beginning in March, they plan to pivot toward bread-and-butter economic concerns, seeking to broaden support beyond the party’s base.
At the same time, the party is moving swiftly to lock in its nomination process, aiming to project stability and readiness. DPK lawmakers are keen to avoid internecine disputes and to draw a contrast with the turmoil seen in the opposition, particularly as the party continues to recover from allegations of campaign donation irregularities tied to the 2022 local elections.
The party has already established key bodies to oversee nominations and election management. Interviews for gubernatorial and mayoral hopefuls are scheduled for later this month, with preliminaries set to begin in early March. Final nominations across all regions are expected to be completed by April 20.
Officials are also planning a joint rally for local election candidates ahead of the official registration period in mid-May.
Still, signs of factional friction remain, raising concerns about unity as campaigning intensifies.
The main opposition party is working to shore up its local strongholds and prevent erosion in key districts.
The PPP, reeling from defeats in the 2024 parliamentary elections and the 2025 presidential race, has framed the June vote as a crucial effort to defend its remaining footholds in local government.
The party has reorganized its election structure, appointing Cho Jung-hoon to lead talent recruitment. It plans to finalize the committee’s lineup this week, pledging that women and young people will account for at least half of its members.
Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk has promised “innovative nominations with new faces,” signaling a push to break from entrenched figures. The party has also floated the possibility of cooperation with smaller parties to form a broader anti-Lee alliance.
However, disciplinary measures have widened internal divisions. Sanctions against figures, including former leader Han Dong-hoon over allegations that his family members sought to manipulate opinion on the party’s online bulletin board, and his ally, lawmaker Bae Hyun-jin, have stirred backlash and raised concerns about party unity ahead of the elections.
With less than four months until voters head to the polls, both major parties face the challenge of translating holiday-season sentiment into winning strategies while preventing internal discord from overshadowing campaigns.
