Chong Won-o named DPK candidate for Seoul; Chun Jae-soo for Busan

Chong Won-o, a preliminary candidate for Seoul mayor from the Democratic Party of Korea, prepares for a televised debate at KBS studio in Yeouido, Seoul, Friday. Joint Press Corps

Chun Jae-soo, a preliminary candidate for Busan mayor from the Democratic Party of Korea, prepares for a televised debate at KNN studio in Busan's Haeundae District, Friday. Yonhap

Chong Won-o, a former chief of Seoul’s Seongdong District, was nominated as the Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) candidate for Seoul mayor, Thursday, ahead of the June 3 local elections.

He won the three-way primary against Reps. Park Ju-min and Jeon Hyun-heui. In the primary that reflected party member voters and public opinion polls 50-50, Chong secured more than half of the votes, avoiding a runoff.

Speaking after the result was announced, Chong framed the mayoral election as a referendum on the current city administration run by Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who is a member of the main opposition People Power Party.

“We will judge the 10 years of incompetence under Mayor Oh and repeat the success of the Lee Jae Myung administration in Seoul,” he said.

He also called for party unity, saying the outcome reflects “a clear mandate to win Seoul as one united DPK.”

Chong, who won three consecutive elections in 2014, 2018 and 2022 to serve as Seongdong District chief, rose as a leading contender for Seoul mayor after President Lee publicly praised his administrative performance.

In December last year, Lee shared a news report on a survey of Seongdong residents on social media, writing, “It seems Chong is indeed doing a good job. My approval ratings as Seongnam mayor were quite high, but even I would not be able to compare.”

Busan race

In Busan, Rep. Chun Jae-soo secured the party’s ticket for the southeastern city, defeating former regional party chair Lee Jae-sung to win the nomination.

Chun thanked party members and voters for their support and emphasized his vision for the city.

“I will prove that Busan can become a maritime capital,” he said. “We will open a new future for Busan and help drive the country’s next leap forward.”

Chun also highlighted Busan’s role as a key logistics and port hub in shaping his campaign agenda.

He is a three-term lawmaker and was the oceans and fisheries minister from July to December 2025 when he stepped down after being accused of receiving bribes from the Unification Church.