Blue House Disconcerted by Defeats in Seoul and Seongnam Despite Local Election Gains, Refrains from Official Comments

Seoul Serves as a Barometer of Centrist Sentiment
President Lee Loses Political Base in Seongnam
Former Blue House Aides Face Mixed Results
Second Year of Presidency Faces Greater Challenges
New Cabinet Formation Likely to Begin in Ear

Although the Democratic Party of Korea won more metropolitan mayoral posts in the June 3 local elections, the atmosphere at the Blue House is far from celebratory. The Democratic Party regained significant local power with victories in key regions such as Busan, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Province. However, the overall significance of this victory was largely diminished after losing the most fiercely contested Seoul mayoral race to Oh Se-hoon of the People Power Party.

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the Cabinet Meeting and Emergency Economic Inspection Meeting held at the Blue House on June 2, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

On June 4, the Blue House appeared to be unsettled by the election results. Outwardly, officials have refrained from making official comments, maintaining a stance that they "take the public sentiment seriously." Internally, however, there is a prevailing sentiment that "the defeat in the Seoul mayoral election is a major blow." Seoul is seen as the region with the greatest symbolic significance in national elections and is considered a barometer of centrist public opinion. As a result, this outcome could pose a considerable challenge for President Lee Jae-myung as he enters his second year in office.

The defeat in the Seongnam mayoral race is also a painful point for the Blue House. Kim Byung-wook, former political affairs secretary at the Blue House, lost to the incumbent Shin Sang-jin of the People Power Party in the Seongnam mayoral contest. Seongnam holds strong symbolic significance as the region where President Lee previously served as mayor and established his political base. Beyond a mere loss in a basic-level mayoral race, the fact that the ruling party's candidate was defeated at the very starting point of President Lee’s political career likely brings significant disappointment within the Blue House.

This outcome is closely tied to President Lee’s political strategy for his second year in office. At the Cabinet meeting on June 2, President Lee stated, "I will work for the remaining four years as if they were eight," identifying price stabilization, fostering advanced industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), and reducing polarization as key tasks. For the public to truly feel the impact of such reforms, cooperation with local governments is essential. In particular, with Seoul's policies on housing, transportation, welfare, and urban development having a significant ripple effect, and Seongnam’s strong political symbolism, the blow to the ruling party carries meaning beyond the numerical results.

Former Blue House staff who ran in other regions received mixed results. Woo Sang-ho, former chief political secretary, was elected governor of Gangwon Province. Former spokespersons Kim Nam-jun and Jeon Eun-su, as well as former National Digital Communications Secretary Kim Nam-kook, also successfully entered the National Assembly through by-elections. Son Hwa-jung, former administrator at the Office for National Integration, became the first mayor of Incheon's Yeongjong District. On the other hand, Ha Jung-woo, former chief of AI Future Planning, lost to independent candidate Han Dong-hoon in Busan Buk-gap.

President Lee is also expected to begin in earnest the process of filling vacancies in his staff left by those who ran in the elections, and to form a new cabinet. In the case of Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, speculation continues about his possible candidacy in the Democratic Party convention, making the appointment of his successor the biggest variable in the political landscape following the local elections. Both inside and outside the ruling party, figures who have worked closely with President Lee in the Blue House and the cabinet—such as Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho, Blue House Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, and SME and Startups Minister Han Sung-sook—are being discussed as possible candidates.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.