The Democratic Party won 17 of the 25 district-mayor seats in Seoul [1], while the People Power Party secured eight [1].
This shift represents a complete reversal of the political landscape in the capital. The result alters the local administrative balance and signals a change in voter sentiment compared to previous election cycles.
The outcome mirrors a flip of the 2018 results. In that election, the People Power Party won 17 districts [1] and the Democratic Party won eight [1].
While the People Power Party candidate Oh Se-hoon won the Seoul mayoral race, the Democratic Party dominated the district-level contests. YTN News said the result was a "decision victory" for the Democratic Party in the district-mayor elections.
Democratic Party candidates secured victories in traditional strongholds. These included the Seongbuk, Jungnang, Gangbuk, Nowon, and Eunpyeong districts [1].
Despite the loss of the mayoral race by candidate Jung Won-oh, the party's success at the district level remains significant. Reporter Cha Yu-jeong said that 17 candidates from the Democratic Party were elected [1].
The distribution of power across the 25 autonomous districts [1] now places a majority of local administrations under Democratic Party leadership. This creates a divided governance structure in Seoul, with a People Power Party mayor overseeing a predominantly Democratic Party group of district mayors.
“The Democratic Party won 17 of the 25 district-mayor seats in Seoul.”
The reversal of the 2018 district-mayor results indicates a significant swing in local political alignment. With the People Power Party holding the mayoralty but the Democratic Party controlling the majority of the 25 districts, Seoul faces a period of split governance. This dynamic often leads to friction between the central city administration and local district offices regarding budget allocations and urban development projects.
