South Korea is holding the ninth nationwide simultaneous local elections and National Assembly by-elections on June 3, 2026 [1, 2].
These elections serve as a critical barometer for political power during the first year of President Lee Jae-myung's administration. The results will determine whether the ruling party can secure a mandate for its national agenda or if the opposition can limit the administration's governing momentum [1, 2].
Approximately 44 million voters [1] are eligible to cast ballots across the country. To facilitate the process, the government established about 4,000 polling stations [1, 2].
Early voting took place over a two-day period from May 29 to May 30, 2026 [1, 2]. During that window, 3,571 early voting stations [1] were available to the public from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day [1].
Party leaders have framed the contest as a struggle for the future of the country's governance. Jung Chung-rae of the Democratic Party urged voters to support the administration's direction. "If you want to add strength to President Lee Jae-myung's state administration, please vote for the Democratic Party's candidate number one," Jung said [1].
Conversely, the People Power Party warned against a complete shift in power. Jang Dong-hyuk said that if administrative power follows the legislative branch into the hands of the opposition, it would lead to a state of lawlessness where tax bombs occur and presidential trials are canceled [1].
With the stakes high for both the Democratic Party and the People Power Party, the outcome of these local and by-elections will likely shape the legislative landscape for the remainder of the term [1, 2].
“"If you want to add strength to President Lee Jae-myung's state administration, please vote for the Democratic Party's candidate number one."”
This election cycle acts as a mid-term referendum on the Lee Jae-myung administration's early performance. Because it combines local leadership races with National Assembly by-elections, the results will signal whether the public supports the current executive's trajectory or prefers a divided government that could stall the administration's primary policy goals.
