DPK reclaims Busan after 8 years, ending conservative rule

Chun Jae-soo, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea candidate for mayor of Busan, speaks with the press at his campaign office, Thursday, after his victory in the local elections becomes certain. Yonhap

Chun Jae-soo of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) won the Busan mayoral race in the June 3 local elections, as the party saw victories across most regions nationwide, reflecting voter support for the Lee Jae Myung administration.

Chun secured 50.52 percent of the vote, compared with 47.9 percent for incumbent Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP).

Chun's victory marks the DPK's return to power in Busan, a conservative stronghold, for the first time in eight years.

In his victory speech, Chun pledged to honor voters' call for change and work tirelessly on their behalf.

“I will become the mayor that citizens want. I will prove myself through achievements and results, not words,” he said.

Chun also extended thanks to the PPP contender, saying, “I would like to tell candidate Park Heong-joon, who competed with me for Busan's future, that he worked very hard.”

A former three-term lawmaker and former minister of oceans and fisheries, Chun made his first bid for the Busan mayorship in this year's local elections.

Throughout the campaign, he promoted his vision of transforming Busan into a global maritime center and emphasized the need for a "strong mayor" who could work closely with both the central government and the ruling party.

He first plans to launch a task force to explore Arctic shipping routes, consolidating the city's maritime functions and establishing a direct cooperation network with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, which relocated to Busan in December 2025 as part of one of President Lee Jae-myung's key pledges.

Chun envisions the new body as a control tower for maritime affairs currently scattered across the central government’s six ministries and the Busan city government.

Chun has pledged to create specialized industrial clusters to shift the city's structure beyond its traditional focus on shipping, ports and logistics toward higher value-added and service-oriented sectors.

He also plans to establish innovation clusters for future industries across Busan, aiming to reduce development disparities between the city's eastern and western regions while accelerating industrial transformation.

In addition, he seeks to introduce a program linking public institutions that relocate to Busan with local universities through recruitment and internship opportunities for young people.

“Political interests may differ, but I believe there will be little disagreement when it comes to policies that benefit Busan and its citizens,” Chun said. “I will actively cooperate on any initiative that serves the public interest."