Jeon vows to 'prove himself through results'; district chief races split 9-7; PPP retains dominance in city council

Democratic Party of Korea's Jeon Jae-soo, whose election as Busan mayor was confirmed in the early hours of Thursday [Jeon Jae-soo campaign]
Democratic Party of Korea's Jeon Jae-soo, whose election as Busan mayor was confirmed in the early hours of Thursday [Jeon Jae-soo campaign]

Democratic Party of Korea candidate Jeon Jae-soo defeated incumbent Mayor Park Heong-joon of the People Power Party in the June 3 local elections, flipping Busan's city hall for the first time in five years. Jeon becomes only the second Democratic mayor of Busan since Oh Geo-don, who held the post in 2018. With vote counting surpassing 90 percent, Jeon secured more than 50 percent of the vote in the early hours of Thursday, leading Park by roughly 40,000 ballots as Park stalled at 47 percent.

"I accept, deep in my heart, the weight of the choice you, the citizens, have made," Jeon said in his victory remarks. He added that he was overcome with regret and sorrow thinking of Ha Jung-woo, who had thrown himself into the race amid fierce headwinds. "I will carry on my shoulders the sweat and tears of every Democratic candidate who fell short," he said. "I will prove myself through results and protect the lives of the citizens."

In the 16 district and county chief races, the People Power Party held its majority by winning nine seats — Jung-gu, Seo-gu, Dong-gu, Busanjin-gu, Dongnae-gu, Geumjeong-gu, Yeonje-gu, Suyeong-gu and Haeundae-gu. The Democratic Party claimed seven, taking the Nakdong River belt districts of Buk-gu, Sasang-gu, Saha-gu and Gangseo-gu, along with Yeongdo-gu, Nam-gu and Gijang-gun. The outcome marks a sharp contrast to the two previous cycles: in the 2018 local elections, held just after a Trump-Kim Jong-un summit, the Democratic Party swept 13 of the 16 seats, while in 2022, following Yoon Suk Yeol's presidential victory, the People Power Party took all 16.

The 48-seat Busan Metropolitan Council was redrawn with the People Power Party holding 37 seats — 34 constituency and three proportional — against 11 for the Democratic Party, comprising eight constituency and three proportional seats. While the Democrats made significant gains from four years ago, when they held no constituency seats and just two proportional seats, Jeon's incoming administration will face a city council still firmly controlled by the People Power Party.


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