Who is running in Seoul mayoral primaries?

Ruling Democratic Party of Korea's candidates for the Seoul mayoral primary Chong Won-o, left, Jeon Hyun-heui, center, and Park Ju-min join hands at a debate held at the MBC headquarters in Seoul, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps

As the June 3 local elections approach, the Seoul mayoral race is entering the primary phase, with the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) each fielding three contenders to compete for their party’s nomination. With neither side’s candidate finalized, the race remains in flux as parties move to select their standard-bearers.

Recent opinion polls, while based on hypothetical matchups, suggest a stronger showing for DPK hopefuls, with several surveys indicating the party’s contenders leading potential PPP nominees and widening their advantage compared with earlier readings.

DPK candidates

Chong Won-o is a veteran local administrator who served three consecutive terms as the head of Seongdong District in Seoul, making him the only three-term district chief in the capital region. His long tenure is often cited as proof of administrative competence, with consistently high public satisfaction ratings. He is also credited with helping transform Seongsu-dong into one of Seoul’s most sought-after neighborhoods.

However, his campaign has drawn scrutiny over overseas business trips, including criticism that parts of a Mexico trip were unrelated to official duties. Chong rejected the claims, saying the trip was conducted for public purposes, and continues to highlight his governance experience and alignment with the national administration as core strengths.

Jeon Hyun-heui brings a uniquely diverse professional background, having worked as a dentist, lawyer and three-term lawmaker. She also served as chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission from 2020 to 2023. Jeon has built her reputation as a reform-oriented politician with strong legislative credentials and multiple awards for parliamentary performance.

Her key pledges include transforming Seoul into a global cultural capital by building a 70,000-seat Seoul Dome-Arena in the Dongdaemun area to attract international performances. She also advocates policies tailored to single-person households, arguing that Seoul’s governance model should shift from traditional family-centered policies to more individualized social support systems.

Park Ju-min, a human rights lawyer-turned-politician, is known for his advocacy work with civic organizations and labor rights groups. Currently a three-term lawmaker, Park has positioned himself as a champion of workers and social justice.

His core campaign focuses on labor reform, particularly addressing income gaps after early retirement and improving protections for platform workers and freelancers. Park argues that Seoul must ensure dignity and stability for working citizens, proposing stronger social safety nets and improved labor conditions.

Main opposition People Power Party's candidates for Seoul mayor Yun Hee-suk, left, Oh Se-hoon, center, and Park Soo-min join hands at a debate held at the TV Chosun studio in Seoul, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps

PPP candidates

Oh Se-hoon, the incumbent mayor, is one of the most experienced figures in the race, having served multiple terms as Seoul mayor and previously as an environmental law-focused lawmaker. As the only four-term elected local government head, his political career is marked by both administrative experience and reform efforts.

However, his campaign has been complicated by tensions with the party leadership and his timing in entering the race. Oh initially declined to register for the party’s Seoul mayoral primary, urging PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok to clarify the party’s direction, including distancing it from former President Yoon Suk Yeol and advancing internal reforms. After the party extended the deadline multiple times, Oh ultimately entered the primary, saying further delay was no longer productive while noting that key reform measures had yet to materialize.

Yun Hee-suk is widely regarded as an economic expert, having built her career as an economist at the Korea Development Institute before entering politics and serving as a lawmaker. She presents herself as a reformist candidate focused on economic realism. Her central campaign theme is housing policy reform, advocating a supply-driven approach to stabilize real estate prices. She proposes large-scale redevelopment initiatives and the construction of a second Seoul City Hall in Chang-dong to promote balanced regional development, particularly in northern Seoul.

Park Soo-min, a newcomer compared to the others, is a business executive and first-term lawmaker. He has emphasized innovative housing and family policies, including rapid redevelopment projects with significantly increased floor area ratios. Park also promotes bold child care support measures, such as financial incentives for shared parental leave, aiming to address both housing shortages and low birthrates simultaneously.

Polling outlook

Recent surveys based on hypothetical matchups suggest DPK contenders hold an advantage, reflecting strong approval ratings for President Lee Jae Myung, signs of voter fatigue toward incumbent mayor Oh and the PPP's limited progress on internal reform.

In a poll conducted by Research & Research and commissioned by the Dong-A Ilbo, carried out on March 30 and 31, among 802 eligible voters, Chong of the DPK led the PPP's Oh with 42.6 percent compared to 28.0 percent, a gap of 14.6 percentage points. Park Ju-min also outperformed Oh, receiving 39.6 percent support compared to Oh’s 28.2 percent, marking a lead of 11.4 percentage points.

The polling had a 95 percent confidence level and a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. Further details are available on the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission’s website.