Official election campaigning for the Seoul mayoral race began at midnight on June 3, 2024 [1].

The start of the legally mandated period marks the final push for candidates to secure the leadership of South Korea's capital before the local elections on June 3 [1]. The race serves as a critical barometer for party strength in the region.

Jeong Won-oh, the Democratic Party candidate, opened his campaign by participating in a parcel-sorting activity [1]. During the event, Jeong said, "I will deliver hope" [2].

Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate, focused his efforts on the Garak Market, where he was seen carrying cabbage [1]. Oh said, "I will wake up the economy" [2].

Despite the active outreach from both camps, current polling indicates a challenging path for the People Power Party candidate. According to anchor Lee Ha-rin, Oh is trailing by approximately 11 percentage points [1]. Lee said that while Oh is pursuing the lead, the gap remains outside the margin of error [2].

The official campaign window is scheduled to run for 13 days [1]. This period allows candidates to engage in high-visibility public events, and direct voter outreach across the city.

“"I will deliver hope"”

The use of blue-collar activities, such as sorting parcels and hauling produce, is a common tactical approach in South Korean local elections to project a 'man of the people' image. With a double-digit gap in the polls, Oh Se-hoon must rapidly shift voter sentiment to overcome a deficit that currently sits outside the statistical margin of error.