Democrats dominate Greater Seoul, Gangwon Province; PPP holds North Gyeongsang, South Chungcheong; Rebuilding Korea Party takes 2 seats, independents 11
The Democratic Party of Korea secured 119 of the 227 basic local government chief posts — covering city, county and district heads — while the People Power Party won 95, tilting local political power toward the Democrats. The Rebuilding Korea Party claimed two posts and independents won 11, filling some of the gap between the two major parties.
According to the National Election Commission, the final tally from Thursday's vote showed 119 Democratic Party candidates and 95 People Power Party candidates elected as heads of basic local governments across the country. The Rebuilding Korea Party won two posts, and 11 independents also prevailed.
The most notable feature of the election was the Democratic Party's dominance in the Greater Seoul metropolitan area — where population and industry are concentrated — as well as in the Chungcheong and Gangwon regions, which have traditionally served as bellwethers.
In Gyeonggi Province, the Democratic Party secured 19 of 31 city and county posts, surpassing a majority, and took 8 of 11 posts in Incheon, driving the overall trend across the metropolitan area.
In Daejeon, the Democratic Party swept all five posts. In North Chungcheong Province, it edged ahead with six posts to the People Power Party's five. In Gangwon Province, the Democrats won 11 of 18 posts against the PPP's seven — a meaningful shift in a region long associated with conservative strength.
Across the Yeongnam region, the People Power Party's grip remained firm. In Daegu, the PPP swept all nine district and county posts, reaffirming its dominance there. In North Gyeongsang Province, the PPP took 18 of 22 posts, with independents claiming the remaining four; the Democratic Party failed to win a single seat. In Ulsan, the PPP won four of five posts, with the Democrats taking one.
However, signs of fracture emerged in Busan and South Gyeongsang Province. In Busan, the PPP won nine of 16 posts and the Democratic Party seven — a narrow margin. In South Gyeongsang Province, the PPP took 10 of 18 posts, the Democrats four and independents four, reflecting a more fragmented outcome.
The Rebuilding Korea Party secured two local government chief posts — in Sinan-gun and Jangheung-gun, both in South Jeolla Province — while independents prevailed in 11 constituencies.
"Looking solely at the basic local government results, the People Power Party defended its regional base centered on Yeongnam," a political observer said. "The Democratic Party has gradually shifted the balance of local power in its favor by expanding its reach into the metropolitan area and Gangwon Province."
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