O Se-hoon won the Seoul mayoral election after a dramatic comeback, becoming the first five-term mayor in the city's history [1].
The victory marks a significant political milestone in South Korea, as no previous mayor of the capital has secured five terms in office [1].
The election results remained uncertain through the night. The Democratic candidate, Jung Won-oh, held an early lead of more than 100,000 votes [1]. However, the tide shifted as the vote count approached 100 percent [1].
Analysts attributed the shift to late-arriving votes and issues with ballot shortages in certain precincts [1]. The turnaround became evident in the early morning hours. O Se-hoon's comeback was confirmed at 7:17 a.m. [1], and the victory was solidified by approximately 9:30 a.m. [1].
Following the results, O said the outcome was a "victory of common sense" [2].
YTN reporter Kang Min-kyung said that O Se-hoon achieved a difficult victory after an all-night struggle to claim the honor of becoming the first five-term mayor in constitutional history [2].
“the first five-term mayor in the city's history”
O Se-hoon's unprecedented fifth term suggests a strong mandate for his specific governance style in the capital. The dramatic shift in vote totals, caused by late ballots and precinct shortages, highlights the volatility of the urban electorate and the critical impact of administrative logistics on election night outcomes.
