Both ruling and opposition parties struggle with leadership shake-ups after local elections

Both the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party are grappling with leadership reshuffles in the wake of the June 3 local elections. The Democratic Party is splitting into pro-Jung and anti-Jung factions ahead of its next national convention, with the question of whether party leader Jung Chung-rae will seek a second term at the center of the divide. In the People Power Party, leader Jang Dong-hyeok is holding firm against mounting calls to resign over the election results, while the outcome of the upcoming floor leader race has emerged as a key variable that could determine his fate.

According to political sources Tuesday, Jung is expected to step down around the time the party convention preparatory committee is formed — anticipated next week — and then launch a reelection bid. President Lee Jae Myung followed the same playbook when he sought a second term as party leader, resigning just before the preparatory committee was activated.

Analysts say Jung's chances of winning a second term have become somewhat uncertain following the party's loss in the Seoul mayoral race, among other setbacks. Rep. Lee Eon-ju resigned from the Supreme Council on Monday, saying the leadership "failed to present a strategy in tune with public sentiment and instead relied solely on the president's approval ratings." South Jeolla Province Gov. Kim Young-rok, who was eliminated in the local election primary, also announced plans to campaign against Jung's reelection, declaring, "The era of Jung Chung-rae is over."

With the June 3 local election results fueling a pro-Jung versus pro-Lee or pro-Jung versus anti-Jung dynamic, fierce competition is expected among candidates. The national convention carries the powerful authority to decide nominations for the 2028 general election.

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok is considered Jung's strongest rival. Kim is expected to announce his candidacy for party leader in late June, once confirmation hearings for his successor are completed. President Lee's remarks at a press conference Monday — praising Kim for "leading the cabinet with outstanding leadership" and saying "it would now be more appropriate for him to take on a different role" — have been widely interpreted as tacit backing for Kim's leadership bid.

In the People Power Party, Jang is holding firm despite calls for his resignation from within and outside the party, and the floor leader election on Wednesday is expected to be a turning point.

At a press conference Tuesday, Jang said the number of polling stations that ran out of ballots had nearly doubled, from 50 to 91. He insisted that "ultimately, the only fundamental solution to this disenfranchisement crisis is a nationwide by-election."

With Jang entrenched, the floor leader race is seen as the critical variable. The candidates are Reps. Kim Do-eup, Seong Il-jong and Jung Jeom-sik. Jung, a former party policy committee chair, is aligned with the party leadership faction; his election could give Jang's leadership renewed momentum for now, observers say. Kim and Seong, by contrast, have publicly raised the question of accountability for the election defeat and called for a leadership overhaul. By Jung Seok-jun and Kim Hae-sol