The Democratic Party of Korea won 12 of 16 metropolitan mayoral seats in the 2024 local elections [1].
The results leave both major parties dissatisfied despite the outcome. The Democratic Party failed to achieve a projected landslide and lost the capital, while the People Power Party suffered heavy losses across the country.
The Democratic Party secured 12 seats [1], but the party could not recapture Seoul [1]. This fell short of the "15 to 1" landslide expectation that had been projected before the vote [3]. Despite the failure to win Seoul, party leadership viewed the result as an improvement over previous cycles.
"I believe this is our victory," said Democratic Party Secretary-General Cho Seung-rae. "In 2022, it was '5 to 12.' Because that has been reversed, I believe this part is a victory" [4].
Meanwhile, the People Power Party secured only four seats overall [2]. The party managed to retain control of both Seoul and Daegu [1]. While these two strongholds provided a measure of relief, the party's overall low seat count contributed to a sense of disappointment.
The contrast between the two parties' perspectives highlights a fragmented political landscape. The Democratic Party focused on the reversal of the 2022 results, where the split was "5 to 12" [4]. The People Power Party focused on the survival of its core urban bases in the face of a broader defeat [1].
“The Democratic Party won 12 of 16 metropolitan mayoral seats in the 2024 local elections.”
The 2024 election results demonstrate a persistent geographic and political divide in South Korea. While the Democratic Party holds a numerical advantage in metropolitan leadership, the People Power Party's ability to hold Seoul and Daegu prevents a total sweep and maintains a strategic foothold in the nation's most influential cities.
