The 2025 South Korean by-elections were held in 2025. According to the Public Official Election Act of South Korea, the first half by-elections were held on April 2, 2025.
The April 2, 2025 by-elections were held for vacancies in heads of local governments, local councilors, and superintendents of education that occurred from March 1, 2024 to February 28, 2025. Suffrage was granted to South Korean citizens residing in the election areas born on or before April 3, 2007, and to foreigners who have obtained permanent residency under Article 10 of the Immigration Act and resided in South Korea for more than three years.
As a result of the vote counting, pan-progressive opposition parties including the Democratic Party of Korea achieved a landslide victory, winning the Guro District Mayor (Democratic Party of Korea), Asan Mayor (Democratic Party of Korea), Damyang County Commissioner (Korea Innovation Party), Geoje Mayor (Democratic Party of Korea), and Busan Superintendent of Education (Progressive). The pan-conservative bloc including the People Power Party suffered a crushing defeat, only retaining the Gimcheon Mayor (People Power Party).
April 2 by-elections Overview Election Date: April 2, 2025 Election Details: Total of 23 constituencies Basic local government heads: 5 Metropolitan council members: 8 Basic council members: 9 Superintendent of Education: 1
Election schedule Source: 2024 December 19 ~ 2024 December 20: Start of preliminary candidate registration application ~ 2025 March 3: Resignation period for those restricted from candidacy 2025 March 11 ~ 2025 March 15: Voter register preparation, Absentee voting notification and preparation of absentee voter register, Application for sending election materials for soldiers, etc.
Electoral Districts and Reasons Basic Local Government Heads Position Party Predecessor Constituency Reason Type Seoul Guro District MayorPeople Power Party Moon Heon-il Seoul Guro District Mayor Resignation By-election Chungnam Asan Mayor Park Kyung-gwi Chungnam Asan Mayor Nullification of Election Re-election Jeonnam Damyang County Mayor Democratic Party Lee Byeong-no Jeonnam Damyang County Mayor Nullification of Election Re-election
Metropolitan Council Members Position Party Predecessor Constituency Reason Type Daegu Metropolitan Council Member People Power Party Jeon Tae-seon Dalseo District 6th Constituency Nullification of Election Re-election
Superintendent of Education Position Predecessor Constituency Reason Type Busan Metropolitan Superintendent of Education Ha Yun-su Busan Nullification of Election Re-election
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