여의도 25시: 6·3 Local Elections Begin
The official campaign period for the 6·3 local elections began at midnight on May 21, launching a 13-day all-out battle between the ruling and opposition parties. The Democratic Party is campaigning on "judging the internal strife and normalizing the state," while the People Power Party is focused on "putting the brakes on the Lee Jae-myung administration's runaway power." Meanwhile, President Lee Jae-myung has vowed to use every available resource to combat fake news, specifically targeting claims about North Korean involvement in the 5·18 Democratization Movement.
Yeouido 25 Hours — May 23, 2026
Today's Political Headlines
6·3 local election campaign officially begins; parties in all-out war
- What's happening?: The official campaign for the 6·3 local elections and parliamentary by-elections kicked off at midnight on May 21. The Democratic Party is focusing its energy on supporting their Seoul mayoral candidate, while the People Power Party started its campaign with themes of reflection and balance, urging citizens to "restore the balance of power."
- Why it matters: This is the first nationwide election since the Lee Jae-myung administration took office, essentially serving as an interim assessment. The ruling party aims to secure support for state affairs, while the opposition focuses on oversight during this 13-day race leading up to June 3.
President Lee Jae-myung: "Will use all means to punish fake news like 5·18 North Korea claims"
- What's happening?: At 2:08 PM on May 21, President Lee Jae-myung issued a public warning that he would "mobilize every possible means to punish" the spread of fake news, specifically citing claims regarding North Korean involvement in the 5·18 Democratization Movement. Yonhap News reported this as breaking news.
- Why it matters: This stern statement from the President immediately after the start of the campaign indicates that fake news and historical distortion have become major political flashpoints. It is interpreted as a direct pushback against attempts by some in the opposition to reinterpret history.
Democratic Party pressures Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon over GTX-A rebar omission
- What's happening?: On May 22, the Democratic Party highlighted the discovery of missing rebar in the construction of the Samseong Station section of the GTX-A line, sharply criticizing Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon. The party accused him of "putting public safety on the back burner to win the election."
- Why it matters: With the Seoul mayoral race considered the biggest battleground of the 6·3 elections, the construction defect is being used as a key offensive tool to question Mayor Oh's management of urban infrastructure.
National petition to abolish coin taxes nears 90% threshold for committee review
- What's happening?: A national petition to the National Assembly demanding the abolition of taxes on virtual assets (coins) has surpassed 90% of the required signatures, nearing the threshold for formal parliamentary committee review. Rep. Song Un-seok stated that "abolishing the virtual asset tax should be the first legislative priority for the second half of the National Assembly."
- Why it matters: Once the petition threshold is met, the issue will be placed on the formal agenda for parliamentary discussion, accelerating legislative competition for the support of young investors ahead of the 6·3 elections.
National Assembly Trends
-
Parliamentary schedule adjusted for 6·3 elections: According to the May 22 schedule, activities included a seminar hosted by Rep. Kim Yun on occupational illness recognition and compensation, a regular briefing by the Democratic Party's communication committee, and a press conference by Rep. Kim Seung-soo. With lawmakers focusing on their local districts for the campaign, standing committee activity has noticeably slowed.
-
Policy Briefing (May 22): The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced the selection of seven new organizations for its "locally-led public-private partnership project." Nineteen government ministries released policy press releases, signaling an effort to promote government achievements during the election season.
-
Coin tax petition nears committee referral: The petition for abolishing virtual asset taxes has reached a level sufficient to meet the requirements for referral to the relevant standing committee, with voices both inside and outside the legislature calling for action.
Presidential Office & Government
-
President Lee Jae-myung declares war on fake news: President Lee announced on May 21 that he would "mobilize all means to punish" historical distortion, such as claims regarding North Korean involvement in the 5·18 Democratization Movement.
-
Government policy schedule (May 21): The Presidential Office held meetings for presidential advisory councils and committee discussions in the morning, followed by a senior secretary meeting in the afternoon. Ministerial-level activities included policy discussions with the Gwanak Business Association and inter-ministerial meetings for the K-Initiative.
Ruling & Opposition Rivalry
-
6·3 election framework clash: The Democratic Party is campaigning to complete the "normalization of the state" by securing local power. The People Power Party is centering its campaign on "putting the brakes on the Lee Jae-myung administration's runaway power," using a strategy of "reflection" to target battlegrounds like the Seoul metropolitan area and Chungcheong province.
-
GTX-A vs. Government failure: The Democratic Party is leveraging the GTX-A rebar scandal to attack Mayor Oh Se-hoon’s safety management. Conversely, the People Power Party is utilizing a "two-track" strategy, acknowledging past mistakes while simultaneously appealing for judgment against the concentration of power in the Lee Jae-myung administration.
Diplomacy & Security
-
Follow-up on Korea-U.S. Vice Foreign Ministerial talks: Following Vice Minister Park's visit to the U.S., both sides discussed the development of their alliance in security and economy. The U.S. confirmed that the two sides discussed efforts to advance their partnership. There is speculation that the Coupang issue, often cited as a hurdle in security follow-up discussions, may have been on the agenda.
-
North Korean media trends (May 23): According to a briefing on May 23, North Korean media continues to emphasize internal unity, urging "patriotic unity and national prosperity." The timing of this message, coinciding with the 6·3 elections, suggests the potential for political ripple effects on South Korea.
Upcoming Schedule
- May 24 (Sun) ~ June 2: The official 6·3 local election campaign continues with daily rallies across the country. The outcome in battlegrounds like the Seoul metro area and Chungcheong province will determine the future political landscape.
- June 3 (Tue): 6·3 Nationwide Local Elections and Parliamentary By-elections. As the first nationwide election under the Lee Jae-myung administration, this is a key variable that will directly influence the second half of the National Assembly and the government's momentum.
- Second-half National Assembly: Once the assembly resumes after the election, negotiations on public livelihood bills—such as the virtual asset tax abolition—are expected to heat up, with Rep. Song Un-seok pushing for it as the top priority.
Reporter's Perspective
The main event to watch during the 13-day sprint for the 6·3 elections is the Seoul mayoral race. While the Democratic Party uses the GTX rebar scandal to target Mayor Oh Se-hoon on safety, the People Power Party is organizing a "judgment theory" against the administration's second year. Even though the ruling party leads in various indicators, signs of a "last-minute dead heat" are emerging. Since the results will influence not only local power but also the legislative landscape and foreign policy, the speed of political restructuring after June 3 will be the main point to watch.
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.
Powered by
