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Choo Mi-ae breaks gender barrier again as Korea's 1st female governor

Choo Mi-ae, a ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) candidate who has repeatedly shattered gender barriers throughout her career, broke new ground again, as she was elected governor of Gyeonggi Province in the local elections, Wednesday. Choo garnered 55.04 percent of the vote, defeating the main opposition People Power Party's (PPP)'s Yang Hyang-ja who received 39.37 percent, in a rare all-female contest between the rival parties. The historic contest drew nationwide attention, as either candidate's win would have marked the first time a woman was elected to lead a provincial or metropolitan government in Korea. The victory marks another milestone in Choo’s career, which has been defined by a series of trailblazing achievements for a woman across the legislative, executive and judicial branches. Among those achievements are becoming the first female judge elected to the National Assembly, the first woman to serve six terms in parliament and the first elected female leader of a ruling party. She served as a judge for 10 years until 1995, when she entered politics after being recruited

Jun 3, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
Choo Mi-ae breaks gender barrier again as Korea's 1st female governor

Busan's Buk-A by-election shows close race between former presidential aide, ex-PPP leader

Ha Jung-woo of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and independent candidate Han Dong-hoon are locked in a neck-and-neck race in the parliamentary by-election for Busan's Buk-A constituency, according to an exit poll released 6 p.m. Wednesday by the country's three major broadcasters. In the joint exit poll conducted by KBS, MBC and SBS, Ha held a narrow lead with 42.6 percent of the vote, while Han garnered 41.6 percent, within the margin of error ranging from 1.7 to 4.1 percentage points, with a 95 percent confidence level. Park Min-shik of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) gained 15.8 percent. The constituency emerged as one of the most closely watched battlegrounds in the parliamentary by-elections, which were held alongside the local elections, seen as a duel between Han and Ha that could play a role in shaping the country’s political landscape. Ha was the inaugural senior presidential secretary for artificial intelligence (AI) and future planning. While overseeing the Lee Jae Myung administration's AI strategy, the Busan native joined the DPK's race following re

Jun 3, 2026By Anna J. Park
Busan's Buk-A by-election shows close race between former presidential aide, ex-PPP leader

Ruling party projected to secure sweeping win in local elections

The liberal ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is projected to dominate Wednesday’s local elections, with an exit poll showing its candidates leading in a majority of key races across the nation while the conservative main opposition People Power Party (PPP) trailed behind. In Seoul, however, ballot shortages emerged as a major flashpoint, disrupting voting in Songpa District and several other locations. The PPP called for an immediate halt to ballot counting throughout all of Seoul and, if necessary, a revote, insisting that the shortages had “seriously undermined the fairness of the election.” According to a joint exit poll, released at 6 p.m. by major broadcasters KBS, MBC and SBS, DPK candidates were leading in 11 of the nation’s 16 mayoral and gubernatorial contests, while the PPP was ahead in just one. Contests in four cities and provinces — Busan, Daegu, Gangwon Province and North Jeolla Province — were too close to call as of 11:30 p.m. In the closely watched Seoul mayoral race, DPK candidate Chong Won-o led the race at 51.4 percent, outpacing incumbent Mayor Oh

Jun 3, 2026By Jung Min-ho
Ruling party projected to secure sweeping win in local elections

Voters head to polls with different hopes in local elections

As polling stations opened across Korea Wednesday morning, voters streamed in to cast ballots in the nationwide local elections, each carrying their own hopes and expectations for their communities and local governments. At a polling station set up at an indoor baseball practice facility at Cheonggu Elementary School in central Seoul, residents quietly made their way through the voting process. The facility, normally used by students for batting practice, was temporarily converted into a polling station for Election Day. Among those casting ballots was Oh Eun-soon, 73, who said she came out because there was a candidate she strongly supported. “I came because there is someone I really want to see elected,” she said. “I wanted to do my part.” Elsewhere in Seoul, polling stations saw a steady stream of voters throughout the morning. At Jangchung Elementary School, voters waited their turn for election officials to guide them through the process of casting seven separate ballots for metropolitan and local offices. Families, older and younger voters were all visible among the crowd. Park

Jun 3, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji and Park Ung
Voters head to polls with different hopes in local elections

Nation heads to polls to select local gov't chiefs, councilors

Koreans will head to polling stations to select their local government chiefs and council members as voting for the ninth local elections begins Wednesday. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 14,288 locations nationwide. Voters will elect 16 metropolitan city mayors and provincial governors, 227 local government heads, 3,973 local council members and 16 education superintendents. By-elections for 14 National Assembly seats will also be held alongside the local polls. Vote counting will begin immediately after polls close. Record early voting turnout has raised expectations for higher overall participation. According to the National Election Commission, 10.49 million voters already cast ballots during the two-day early voting period held Friday and Saturday, resulting in a turnout of 23.51 percent. The figure surpassed the 2022 local elections' early voting turnout rate of 20.62 percent. The highest voter turnout in local elections was 68.4 percent, in the inaugural elections held in 1995, while the lowest was 48.9 percent in 2002. The most recent local elections in 2022 recorded a turn

Jun 3, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
Nation heads to polls to select local gov't chiefs, councilors

Rival parties make final push for support on eve of local elections

The ruling and opposition parties made last-ditch appeals for support Tuesday, the eve of nationwide local elections, a vote widely seen as a test of public sentiment toward President Lee Jae Myung's first year in office. Up for grabs in the June 3 elections are 16 mayoral and gubernatorial posts, along with 227 heads of local governments and some 4,000 members of local councils. This year's elections carry added significance as 14 National Assembly seats are also at stake in parliamentary by-elections, to be held alongside the local elections, with several political heavyweights running in the races. Surveys conducted before a blackout period of election-related polls last week pointed to a tighter-than-expected race between candidates from the ruling Democratic Party of Kroea (DPK) and their rivals from the main opposition People Power Party (PPP). Wrapping up the 13-day campaign period, the DP appealed for support in regions ranging from the traditional conservative stronghold of Gangwon Province to the liberal party's turf of the Jeolla provinces. DPK leader Jung Chung-rae was set to

Jun 2, 2026By Yonhap
Rival parties make final push for support on eve of local elections

Cabinet approves revised labor law allowing hourly use of paid annual leave

The Cabinet approved Tuesday a revised labor law allowing the hourly use of paid annual leave, which is currently permitted only on a daily basis. Under the revised Labor Standards Act, workers will be allowed to take paid annual leave on an hourly basis, as well as in full-day units, with employers who violate the provision subject to penalties, according to Cheong Wa Dae. The revision also requires employers to allow workers to leave immediately after four consecutive hours of work without taking a rest break, if they so request. Under the current law, employers must provide a rest break during working hours, often requiring workers to remain at the workplace for a break even after completing four hours of work. The current law mandates a 30-minute break after four hours of work and a one-hour break after eight hours of work. The revision also prohibits employers from dismissing or disadvantaging workers for taking or applying for paid annual leave. The provision allowing the hourly use of paid leave will take effect one year after the revision's promulgation, while the provision on res

Jun 2, 2026By Yonhap
Cabinet approves revised labor law allowing hourly use of paid annual leave

Cheong Wa Dae eyes Cabinet, aide reshuffle after local elections

Cheong Wa Dae is poised to carry out a broad reshuffle spanning both the Cabinet and the presidential office after Wednesday’s local elections, according to ruling party and government officials, Tuesday. The projected shakeup comes as President Lee Jae Myung approaches his first anniversary in office, Thursday, and looks to build fresh momentum for the remainder of his term. The prospect of a reshuffle has been fueled by growing speculation that Prime Minister Kim Min-seok will resign after the elections to run for the leadership of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). The leadership race has already begun to take shape, with Kim widely seen as a likely challenger to incumbent DPK Chairman Jung Chung-rae. Kim’s departure would require Lee to appoint a new prime minister, prompting speculation over potential successors, including Cabinet ministers and senior presidential aides. A chain of promotions and transfers would follow, leaving a number of posts to be filled across the government. “With the president marking his first anniversary in office, he will likely prefer someone

Jun 2, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
Cheong Wa Dae eyes Cabinet, aide reshuffle after local elections

Lee urges stern punishment for intentional spreading of false information

President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday called for stern punishment for those knowingly spreading misinformation, citing an ongoing police investigation into the circulation of online fake news claiming the government will force people to sell U.S. dollars. The president made the call on his X account, attaching a news article reporting that the police have identified 10 people suspected of circulating fake news claiming the government will issue an emergency order requiring the sale of dollars to address an economic crisis stemming from the Middle East conflict. "The act of intentionally spreading false information and causing social confusion and economic damage should be identified and punished sternly," Lee wrote on the account. The president insisted that spreading fake news to the detriment of the public cannot constitute freedom of expression or be tolerated. "Any acts that harm people or destroy public order and values are tantamount to serious crimes that should be punished severely, even if they were committed as a joke," Lee noted. As claims about the dollar sale circulated in onlin

Jun 2, 2026By Yonhap
Lee urges stern punishment for intentional spreading of false information

Foreign voting rights under strain as information barriers persist

The number of registered foreign voters in Korea hit a record 151,532 ahead of the June 3 local elections, but turnout keeps falling, dragged down by language barriers, lack of outreach and little awareness that the right exists at all. In the 2022 local elections, just 13.3 percent of eligible foreign voters cast a ballot. In Korea, foreign nationals aged 18 or older can vote in local elections — for mayors, governors, district heads, local councilors and education superintendents — three years after obtaining an F-5 permanent residency visa. Chinese nationals make up the overwhelming majority, accounting for roughly 78 percent of eligible foreign voters for the 2022 elections. As the eligible foreign voter pool grows, some election commissions and candidates are stepping up multilingual outreach. Regional branches of the National Election Commission (NEC), including the office in Gangwon Province, are distributing voting guides in multiple languages — including versions in English, Chinese and Vietnamese — to assist eligible foreign voters. Some candidates publish their policy

Jun 2, 2026By Park Ji-won
Foreign voting rights under strain as information barriers persist
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