Yeouido 25 Hours: 2026년 5월 17일
With the June 3rd local elections just two weeks away, the political landscape is heating up. The People Power Party is accusing President Lee Jae-myung of election interference due to his market visits, while candidates in Ulsan are maneuvering for consolidations. Keep an eye on these alliances and the upcoming TV debates, as they’ll be the biggest factors in the final stretch.
Yeouido 25 Hours — May 17, 2026
Today's Political Headlines
People Power Party Warns Against President Lee's Market Visits
- What happened?: Floor Leader Song Eon-seok of the People Power Party labeled President Lee Jae-myung’s recent visits to Namok Maseong Market in Ulsan and Moran Market in Seongnam as "clear election interference." Song warned that if the President continues these activities, the party will pursue legal action.
- Why it matters: With the June 3rd local elections only two weeks away, this is turning into a legal and political firestorm over whether presidential visits to traditional markets constitute campaigning. If this leads to a courtroom battle, it could significantly impact the entire election season.
Ulsan Mayoral Race: Progressive Consolidation vs. Conservative Gridlock
- What happened?: In the Ulsan mayoral race, Democratic Party candidate Kim Sang-wook and Progressive Party candidate Kim Jong-hun have agreed to a single-candidate consolidation through opinion polls. Meanwhile, talks between the People Power Party’s Kim Du-gyeom and independent Park Maeng-woo remain stalled as of May 15th.
- Why it matters: Consolidation is the key variable for the Ulsan mayoral seat. If the progressive side finishes their unification first, the conservative side risks heading into the election divided.
Growing Tensions Over TV Debates
- What happened?: The People Power Party is pushing for TV debates between local election candidates, while the Democratic Party’s Seoul mayoral candidate Jung Won-oh's camp retorted that "smear tactics must stop first." As of the 17th, no debate schedule has been set.
- Why it matters: TV debates are a crucial event for rallying undecided voters. The outcome of negotiations over the format and timing of these debates could sway the election results.
Gallup Korea Poll: Opposition Leading, Tight Races in Seoul Area
- What happened?: According to Herald Business, a Gallup Korea survey (May 12–14, 1,011 voters) shows more respondents prefer opposition (Democratic Party) candidates over ruling party (People Power Party) candidates. Despite the conservative base consolidating, some areas in TK (Daegu-Gyeongbuk) and PK (Busan-Gyeongnam) remain neck-and-neck.
- Why it matters: The results in the capital region and major cities will serve as a barometer for the Lee Jae-myung administration’s governance power and the People Power Party’s reconstruction efforts.
National Assembly Trends
- "Namu-ho" Engine Debris Arrives: Military-Led Analysis Begins: SBS reported on the 15th that engine debris from the "Namu-ho" vehicle has arrived in Korea. The Ministry of National Defense and the Agency for Defense Development will conduct a detailed analysis to determine the vehicle type and the origin of the attack.
- Candidate Registration Completed: Registration for the June 3rd local elections and parliamentary by-elections finished on the 15th. Major party lineups are set, though some consolidation negotiations continue to loom as a variable.
- Pyeongtaek By-election: Democratic Party campaign chief Cho Seung-rae urged candidates from his party and the Rebuilding Korea Party (led by Cho Kuk) to exercise restraint in their heated exchange, noting that such public infighting is a bad look for voters.
Blue House and Government
- Foreign Ministry Personnel Changes: Yonhap News reported on a reshuffle in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the morning of the 15th, likely a move to reorganize the diplomatic line around the time of the June 3rd elections.
- President Lee’s Continued Market Visits: Despite opposition protests, President Lee continues his "livelihood-focused" visits. The Presidential Office has remained silent on the People Power Party's warnings.
Diplomacy and Security
- Trump-Xi Summit: Yonhap News TV reported on the 15th that US President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping reached an agreement on keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. However, they remained at odds over the Taiwan issue. South Korea is closely monitoring how this will affect energy security.
Upcoming Schedule
- May 18, 2026 (Mon): Official start of the election campaign period for the June 3rd local elections.
- Mid-May 2026: Expected release of initial analysis on the Namu-ho debris.
- June 3, 2026 (Wed): Voting day for the 9th Nationwide Local Elections and parliamentary by-elections.
Reporter's Perspective
With two weeks left, the keys to the June 3rd elections are undoubtedly "consolidation" and "TV debates." The progressive camp has moved faster on unification in Ulsan, while the conservatives are stalling, which could reshape regional dynamics. If the legal debate over President Lee’s market visits escalates, it might cloud the entire election atmosphere. Also, keep an eye on how the Namu-ho debris analysis might turn security issues into a last-minute wild card.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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