South Korea has experienced significant political shifts over the past two years. The electorate, which had previously favored the ruling People’s Power Party (PPP) in the 20th presidential and subsequent local elections, dramatically shifted their support to the main opposition, the Democratic Party (DP), in the 22nd National Assembly election held three months later in 2022. This shift is largely attributed to the public’s assessment of President Yoon Suk-yeol’s administration and the emergence of the Rebuilding Korea Party led by former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, which expanded the opposition’s influence.
In the closely contested presidential election of March 2022, President Yoon narrowly defeated DP leader Lee Jae-myung by a margin of 0.73 percentage points, highlighting the competitive nature of the race. President Yoon secured 50.56% of the vote in Seoul, compared to Lee’s 45.73%. However, President Yoon was outpaced by Lee in Incheon (Yoon 47.05%, Lee 48.91%) and Gyeonggi Province (Yoon 45.62%, Lee 50.94%). President Yoon also maintained strong support in his home regions, including Busan, Ulsan, South Gyeongsang Province, Daegu-North Gyeongsang Province (TK), and Gangwon. Lee Jae-myung, on the other hand, claimed victories in ‘swing regions’ such as Daejeon and Chungcheong Provinces, contributing to his overall win.
The dynamics further evolved in the subsequent local elections, where the PPP achieved a decisive victory, winning 12 out of 17 city and governorship contests. Despite this, the DP retained control in strategic areas like Gyeonggi Province, the Honam region (Gwangju and Jeolla Provinces), and Jeju. A significant voter turnout saw PPP candidates receiving 53% (11.99 million) of the national vote, establishing a substantial 10 percentage point lead over the DP’s 43% (9.76 million). The gap widened from 0.73 to 10 percentage points, signaling a robust endorsement of the ruling party in what many referred to as the ‘extended phase of the presidential election.’
