The ninth local elections in South Korea () were held on 3 June 2026 for 4,227 public officials including 16 metropolitan mayors and provincial governors, 227 municipal mayors, 933 metropolitan and provincial councillors, 3,035 municipal councillors, and 16 superintendents of education.
Of the elections for the 16 metropolitan mayors and governors, the ruling Democratic Party won 12 races in a landslide victory, while the opposition People Power Party managed to hold 4, including the mayorship of Seoul.
Background Citizens born before 4 June 2008 have the right to vote and the right to be elected. 2026 South Korean by-elections will be also held during the local elections.
Regional head elections
Summary Province/CityHeadIncumbentPartyElectedPartySeoulMayorOh Se-hoonPeople PowerOh Se-hoonPeople PowerJeonnam-GwangjuMayorNewMin Hyung-baeDemocraticBusanMayorPark Heong-joonPeople PowerChun Jae-sooDemocraticDaeguMayorKim Jeong-gi (acting)IndependentChoo Kyung-hoPeople PowerIncheonMayorYoo Jeong-bokPeople PowerPark Chan-daeDemocraticDaejeonMayorLee Jang-wooPeople PowerHeo Tae-jeongDemocraticUlsanMayorKim Doo-gyumPeople PowerKim Sang-wookDemocraticSejongMayorChoi Min-hoPeople PowerCho Sang-hoDemocraticGyeonggiGovernorKim Dong-yeonDemocraticChoo Mi-aeDemocraticGangwonGovernorKim Jin-taePeople PowerWoo Sang-hoDemocraticNorth ChungcheongGovernorKim Young-hwanPeople PowerShin Yong-hanDemocraticSouth ChungcheongGovernorKim Tae-heumPeople PowerPark Soo-hyunDemocraticNorth JeollaGovernorKim Kwan-youngIndependentLee Won-taegDemocraticNorth GyeongsangGovernorLee Cheol-wooPeople PowerLee Cheol-wooPeople PowerSouth GyeongsangGovernorPark Wan-suPeople PowerPark Wan-suPeople PowerJejuGovernorOh Young-hunDemocraticWi Seong-gonDemocratic
Seoul Incumbent mayor of Seoul Oh Se-hoon of the People Power Party was re-elected to a fifth term.
Jeonnam–Gwangju South Jeolla Province and Gwangju are set to merge into the special city of Jeonnam–Gwangju on 1 July 2026.
Incumbent governor of South Jeolla Province Kim Yung-rok and incumbent mayor of Gwangju Kang Gi-jung, both from the Democratic Party, did not run for mayor of Jeonnam–Gwangju. The Democratic Party nominated former National Assembly member for Gwangsan B, Gwangju Min Hyung-bae, who won the election.
Busan Incumbent mayor of Busan Park Heong-joon of the People Power Party ran for re-election to a third term, but was defeated by former Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Chun Jae-soo of the Democratic Party.
Daegu Kim Jeong-gi had been serving as acting mayor of Daegu since 11 April 2025, after Hong Joon-pyo of the People Power Party (PPP) resigned. The PPP nominated former National Assembly member for Dalseong, Daegu Choo Kyung-ho, who won the election.
Incheon Incumbent mayor of Incheon Yoo Jeong-bok of the People Power Party ran for re-election to a third term, but was defeated by former National Assembly member for Yeonsu A, Incheon Park Chan-dae of the Democratic Party.
Daejeon Incumbent mayor of Daejeon Lee Jang-woo of the People Power Party ran for re-election to a second term, but was defeated by his predecessor, former mayor of Daejeon Heo Tae-jeong of the Democratic Party in a rematch.
Ulsan Incumbent mayor of Ulsan Kim Doo-gyeom of the People Power Party ran for re-election to a second term, but was defeated by former National Assembly member for Nam A, Ulsan Kim Sang-wook of the Democratic Party.
Sejong Incumbent mayor of Sejong Choi Min-ho of the People Power Party ran for re-election to a second term, but was defeated by former vice mayor of Sejong for economic affairs Cho Sang-ho of the Democratic Party.
Gyeonggi Incumbent governor of Gyeonggi Province Kim Dong-yeon of the Democratic Party lost renomination to former National Assembly member for Hanam A, Gyeonggi Choo Mi-ae, who won the election.
Gangwon Incumbent governor of Gangwon Province Kim Jin-tae of the People Power Party ran for re-election to a second term, but was defeated by former National Assembly member for Seodaemun A, Seoul Woo Sang-ho of the Democratic Party.
North Chungcheong Incumbent governor of North Chungcheong Province Kim Young-hwan of the People Power Party ran for re-election to a second term, but was defeated by Shin Yong-han of the Democratic Party.
South Chungcheong Incumbent governor of South Chungcheong Province Kim Tae-heum of the People Power Party ran for re-election to a second term, but was defeated by former National Assembly member for Gongju–Buyeo–Cheongyang, South Chungcheong Park Soo-hyun of the Democratic Party.
North Jeolla Incumbent governor of North Jeolla Province Kim Kwan-young, an independent, ran for re-election to a second term after being expelled from the Democratic Party, but was defeated by former National Assembly member for Gunsa–Gimje–Buan B, North Jeolla Lee Won-taeg of the Democratic Party.
North Gyeongsang Incumbent governor of North Gyeongsang Province Lee Cheol-woo of the People Power Party was re-elected to a third term.
South Gyeongsang Incumbent governor of South Gyeongsang Province Park Wan-su of the People Power Party was re-elected to a second term, defeating former governor Kim Kyoung-soo on a much reduced margin from 2022.
Jeju Incumbent governor of Jeju Province Oh Young-hun of the Democratic Party retired. The Democratic Party nominated former National Assembly member for Seogwipo, Jeju Wi Seong-gon, who won the election.
Regional council elections
Results by province and city Province/CitySeatsDPKPPPPPRKPINDSeoul1188038Jeonnam–Gwangju9183152Busan481137Daegu36234Incheon45387Daejeon22202Ulsan226151Sejong21183Gyeonggi167144221Gangwon542430North Chungcheong382711South Chungcheong503317North Jeolla444211North Gyeongsang643583South Gyeongsang6823441Jeju45348111Total933589327755Source: National Election Commission, MBC
Constituency seats Province/CitySeatsDPKPPPPPINDSeoul1037330Jeonnam–Gwangju79754Busan42834Daegu3131Incheon39354Daejeon19181Ulsan195131Sejong18162Gyeonggi14613313Gangwon472126North Chungcheong33249South Chungcheong432914North Jeolla3838North Gyeongsang56533South Gyeongsang5919391Jeju3227311Total80452127265Source: National Election Commission, MBC
Proportional representation seats Province/CitySeatsDPKPPPRKPPPSeoul1578Jeonnam–Gwangju128121Busan633Daegu523Incheon633Daejeon321Ulsan312Sejong321Gyeonggi211191Gangwon734North Chungcheong532South Chungcheong743North Jeolla6411North Gyeongsang835South Gyeongsang945Jeju13751Total129685551Source: National Election Commission, MBC
Municipal mayoral elections
Results by province or city Province/CityMayorsDPKPPPRKPINDSeoul25178Jeonnam–Gwangju272223Busan1679Daegu99Incheon1183Daejeon55Ulsan514Gyeonggi311912Gangwon18117North Chungcheong1165South Chungcheong15510North Jeolla1414North Gyeongsang22184South Gyeongsang184104Total22711995211Source: National Election Commission, Yonhap News Agency
Municipal council elections
Results by province and city Province/CitySeatsDPKPPPPPRKPJPRPGPKINDSeoul4362282035Jeonnam–Gwangju3202502216428Busan182819821Daegu13148794Incheon12971571Daejeon633825Ulsan5024251Gyeonggi47126520411Gangwon177779712North Chungcheong14074651South Chungcheong17988892North Jeolla20015821624North Gyeongsang28460191132South Gyeongsang272112144115Total3,0341,5741,2773432611109Source: National Election Commission
Constituency seats Province/CitySeatsDPKPPPPPRKPJPRPGPKINDSeoul3831991795Jeonnam–Gwangju278216228428Busan158708521Daegu11443674Incheon11362501Daejeon563323Ulsan4421221Gyeonggi41523517811Gangwon154718012North Chungcheong12365571South Chungcheong15374772North Jeolla17513921024North Gyeongsang24851164132South Gyeongsang23697123115Total2,6501,3761,1053418611109Source: National Election Commission
Proportional representation seats Province/CitySeatsDPKPPPRKPSeoul532924Jeonnam–Gwangju42348Busan241113Daegu17512Incheon1697Daejeon752Ulsan633Gyeonggi563026Gangwon23617North Chungcheong1798South Chungcheong261412North Jeolla25196North Gyeongsang36927South Gyeongsang361521Total38419817214Source: National Election Commission
Administrative controversies
2026 ballot shortages During the local elections on June 3, 2026, the National Election Commission (NEC) faced significant criticism due to a severe shortage of physical ballots at polling stations. The NEC had reduced the printing of election day ballots to approximately 50% of the registered electorate, anticipating that high early voting turnout would lower the demand on election day.
However, this calculation led to ballot depletion in 91 voting districts nationwide, including Songpa-gu, Gangnam-gu, and Gwangjin-gu in Seoul, as well as Yeonsu-gu in Incheon. Consequently, voting hours were extended past the official 6:00 PM closing time, with some polling stations in Jamsil operating until 10:00 PM as emergency ballot supplies were delivered.
Exit poll controversy and resignations Major television networks released their exit poll projections at exactly 6:00 PM, while hundreds to thousands of voters were still waiting in lines at the extended polling stations, raising concerns regarding the potential violation of the secret ballot principle.
Following the administrative failures, a civic group filed formal complaints against top election officials for dereliction of duty, prompting the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency to launch an investigation. On June 5, 2026, NEC Chairman Rho Tae-ak and Secretary General Heo Chul-hoon officially resigned from their positions. Kim Eun Hae, a member of the People Power Party(conservative), criticized Rho Tae-ak's resignation, stating that it did not constitute taking responsibility, as his term as NEC chairman was already ending with the election. Meanwhile, Roh Tae-ak has concurrently served as a Justice of the Supreme Court alongside his role as Chair of the NEC. Critics from opposition parties, conservative civic groups, and some political figures have argued that the current system, in which the Chair of the National Election Commission is also a Supreme Court Justice, raises concerns regarding the political neutrality of the judiciary and the independence of election administration. On June 8, Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae of the Supreme Court accepted the resignation tendered by Roh Tae-ak.
Before their resignations, the NEC issued a statement apologizing for the mismanagement but stated that the ballot shortages do not constitute a valid legal basis for re-elections. Public assemblies and citizen gatherings continued following the incident, primarily centered around the Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Jamsil, Seoul, calling for a thorough investigation into ballot shortages, a rerun of the election, transparency, and manual vote counting. The protest reportedly began on June 5 and is still ongoing.
See also
2022 South Korean local elections 2025 South Korean presidential election
References