Ulsan voters will head to the polls on June 3, 2024 [2], to elect a mayor in a race featuring three main candidates [3].

The outcome is significant because Ulsan serves as a unique political barometer, blending a strong working-class identity with a consistent history of conservative voting.

Incumbent candidate Kim Du-gyeom of the People Power Party faces challenges from Kim Sang-wook of the Democratic Party and Kim Jong-hoon of the Progressive Party. The race is shaped by the city's historical leanings, as Ulsan voted for the conservative People Power side in six of the last seven mayoral elections [1].

Local sentiment remains divided between support for the status quo and frustration over political shifts. A 70-year-old resident of Sinheung-gu/Ujeong-dong said Kim Du-gyeom is doing well and is a person who settles matters smoothly and practically.

However, other voters expressed anger toward candidates who switched parties. Han Tae-geun, a 70-year-old resident of Jung-gu/Boksan-dong, said a candidate who moved from the People Power Party to the Democratic Party was a complete traitor.

A central variable in the upcoming vote is the potential for "unification" among opposition candidates. If the Democratic and Progressive candidates consolidate their support behind a single nominee, it could disrupt the conservative stronghold that has dominated the city's leadership for years.

Campaigning continues across districts such as Sinheung-gu and Jung-gu as the candidates attempt to balance the needs of the industrial workforce with the preferences of the city's conservative base.

“Ulsan voted for the conservative People Power side in six of the last seven mayoral elections.”

The Ulsan mayoral race highlights the tension between the city's economic identity as a labor hub and its political reality as a conservative bastion. While the People Power Party holds a dominant historical advantage, the success of the opposition depends entirely on their ability to unify. A split opposition likely secures an incumbent victory, whereas a single challenger could capitalize on working-class grievances to flip the city.