(LEAD) Rival parties focus on battleground regions in last-minute campaigns for June 3 elections

Lead

South Korea's ruling and opposition parties made their final appeals to voters on the eve of nationwide local elections, with both camps concentrating their efforts on battleground regions, including Seoul and Ulsan. The June 3 vote is widely seen as a test of public sentiment toward President Lee Jae Myung's first year in office, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Up for grabs are 16 mayoral and gubernatorial posts, along with 227 heads of local governments and some 4,000 members of local councils, as reported by Yonhap. The elections also carry significance as 14 National Assembly seats are at stake in parliamentary by-elections held alongside the local contests, a detail reported by one Yonhap article.

Coverage Comparison

All four Yonhap reports agree on the core facts of the election: the number of positions being contested, the main parties involved, and the timing. The coverage consistently frames the election as a competition between the ruling Democratic Party (DP) and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), with an emphasis on battleground regions.

One article focused on the final weekend of campaigning, noting that DP leader Rep. Jung Chung-rae was expected to visit Seoul, North Jeolla Province, and Ulsan, while PPP leader Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok held a press conference in Seoul and planned rallies in conservative strongholds. Another article detailed the closing day of the campaign, with DP leader Jung visiting a traditional market in Gangwon Province before finishing at Cheonggye Plaza in Seoul.

A third article reported a tragic development: a deadly explosion at a Hanwha Aerospace factory in Daejeon on June 1, two days before the election, which led both parties to suspend or tone down their campaign activities. This was reported by a single Yonhap article.

Key Claims

• Election scope: According to multiple Yonhap reports, voters will choose 16 mayors and governors, 227 heads of local governments, and approximately 4,000 local council members.
• Parliamentary by-elections: One Yonhap article notes that 14 National Assembly seats will also be contested in by-elections held simultaneously with the local elections.
• Battleground races: Polls cited by Yonhap suggest close contests in several key regions. In Ulsan, traditionally a conservative stronghold, DP candidate Kim Sang-wook benefited from a candidate unification deal with a minor progressive runner, improving his chances against PPP candidate Kim Du-kyun. In Seoul, the mayoral race between DP candidate Chong Won-o and incumbent Oh Se-hoon of the PPP is forecast to be tight.
• Early voting turnout: Early voting for the elections drew 23.51 percent of eligible voters, the highest figure on record for such polls, according to multiple Yonhap reports.
• Hanwha Aerospace explosion: A Yonhap article reports that an explosion at a Hanwha Aerospace factory in Daejeon killed at least five people and injured two others on June 1. The incident prompted DP leader Jung to order all party candidates and camps to suspend campaign activities, while PPP leader Jang called on candidates to tone down their campaigning. Jang also canceled scheduled events in Jeju and Ulsan and returned to Seoul.

Perspectives

Ruling Democratic Party (DP): The DP has anchored its campaign on President Lee Jae Myung's high approval ratings, urging voters to give the party more seats, as reported by Yonhap. In the closing days, DP floor leader Han Byung-do encouraged voters to "complete the success of the Lee Jae Myung government with your vote." He also called for a stern judgment on "incompetent and irresponsible local governments that came to power on the back of (former President) Yoon Suk Yeol four years ago and devastated the local communities."

Main opposition People Power Party (PPP): The PPP has framed the elections as an opportunity to check what it describes as Lee's "autocracy," according to Yonhap. PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok called for voter participation and focused on battleground areas and traditional conservative strongholds, including the metropolitan area, Gangwon Province, and North and South Gyeongsang Provinces.

President Lee Jae Myung: In a message on his X account, Lee urged citizens to vote, saying, "Silence and giving up voting give opportunities to those who deceive the public and abuse their authority for personal interests," as reported by Yonhap.

Response to the explosion: Both parties responded to the Hanwha Aerospace explosion with restraint. DP leader Jung instructed candidates to halt campaigning and refrain from using campaign songs or dance performances. PPP leader Jang offered condolences to the victims and families, canceled his own events, and urged the government to mobilize all available resources for rescue operations. In Seoul, DP mayoral candidate Chong Won-o announced a temporary halt to his campaigning, while PPP candidate Oh Se-hoon proceeded with his schedule but without campaign songs.