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| National Election Commission workers count votes at a ballot counting station in Eunpyeong District, Seoul, Wednesday, after the local elections ended earlier in the evening. Korea Times photo by Bae Woo-han |
By Lee Hyo-jin
In the local elections held on Wednesday, the ruling People Power Party (PPP) enjoyed a sweeping victory in the races for district office heads in Seoul, staging a successful comeback after its crushing defeat to the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) in the 2018 local elections.
According to the National Election Commission (NEC), the PPP won 17 out of the total 25 constituencies in the capital, while the DPK managed to retain control in eight districts ― Seongdong, Jungnang, Seongbuk, Gangbuk, Nowon, Eunpyeong, Geumcheon and Gwanak.
The PPP's victory came after the conservative bloc had suffered a dismal loss to the liberals in the previous election.
In 2018, the then-ruling DPK secured 24 out of 25 district head posts in Seoul, while the PPP managed to secure only one seat in southern Seoul's Seocho District, a region it has traditionally dominated.
On Wednesday's local election, the PPP also won back dominance in the Seoul Metropolitan Council, by seizing 76 seats out of the total 112, while the DPK won only 36.
The PPP's electoral success in Seoul's district office chief positions and city council is expected to boost re-elected Mayor Oh Se-hoon's management of city affairs.
Oh, who has won another term after beating his DPK rival Song Young-gil, had been at odds with the city council which was dominated by the DPK.
"Over the last year, there were many city projects we could not develop due to the (backlash from) DPK-dominated city council. Now we will be able to carry out policies swiftly in an environment where we can work more comfortably," Oh told reporters on Thursday after the vote counting was completed.
