Park Chan-dae wins Incheon mayoral race, pledging era of growth over stagnation

Park Chan-dae, the Democratic Party of Korea's candidate for Incheon mayor, won Thursday's June 3 local elections, becoming the city's new leader for the ninth directly elected mayoral term.

Park defeated incumbent Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok of the People Power Party, returning the mayoral seat to the Democratic Party.

According to vote tallies released Thursday by the National Election Commission, Park secured 809,426 votes, or 52.84 percent, beating Yoo's 705,622 votes, or 46.06 percent. Reform Party candidate Lee Gi-bung received just 16,788 votes, or 1.09 percent.

The victory marks the Democratic Party's return to Incheon City Hall four years after losing the seat in the 2022 local elections.

In his victory remarks, Park said citizens had "made a great decision for a greater Incheon" and that he would "take to heart the people's mandate to move beyond stagnation and toward growth."

He added that he would immediately launch an emergency 100-day project to restore livelihoods and work in close step with the central government to deliver overwhelming results.

Throughout the campaign, Park made raising the average annual salary of Incheon workers to 55 million won (about $36,300) a central goal, placing job creation at the top of his agenda.

He pledged to expand quality employment through the development of future industries — including AI, biotech, next-generation mobility and eco-friendly energy — and to build a city that young people would not want to leave.

Park also outlined plans to strengthen Incheon's growth engine through urban regeneration in older city centers, expanded transportation infrastructure and the development of a globally competitive economic hub.

A certified public accountant by training, Park served three terms as a National Assembly member from Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, and previously held the posts of supreme council member and floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea.

He ran on the strength of his experience in national politics and his network within the government and the Assembly, presenting himself as the right person to drive Incheon's development.

"I will listen closely and work tirelessly to take Incheon to the next level," Park said. "I will repay your trust with change and results that citizens can feel."