Yeouido 25 Hours — May 21, 2026

Today's Political Headlines

Official campaign for 6·3 local elections begins; ruling and opposition clash

• What happened?: The official campaign period for the 9th Nationwide Simultaneous Local Elections kicked off at midnight on the 21st. The Democratic Party focused its efforts on supporting Seoul mayoral candidate Jeong Won-o, framing the election as a "judgment on insurrection and national normalization." The People Power Party countered by urging voters to "put a brake on the Lee Jae-myung administration's runaway power" while emphasizing the quality of its candidates.
• Why it matters: As the first nationwide election since the inauguration of the Lee Jae-myung government, the results are expected to directly influence future political leadership and the internal power structure of the People Power Party.

People Power Party appeals for "self-reflection" and "balance"

• What happened?: On the first day of the campaign, the People Power Party stated, "We will approach this election with a spirit of reflection and responsibility," calling on the public to "personally restore the balance of power." Under the leadership of Chairman Jang Dong-hyeok, the party is prioritizing atonement and reform.
• Why it matters: With forecasts suggesting a lackluster performance in the local elections, it is interpreted that potential future party leaders such as Kim Moon-soo, Na Kyung-won, Ahn Cheol-soo, and Oh Se-hoon have already begun competing by actively supporting candidates. The election results could trigger a major reshuffling of the party's leadership landscape.

People Power Party warns of legal action against MBC for "election interference"

• What happened?: The People Power Party’s Special Committee on Media Freedom held a press conference on the 20th, claiming, "MBC is interfering in the election again, following their history with the 'Byeongpung' incident and the mad cow disease reporting." Representative Kim Jang-kyum warned, "We will take all necessary civil and criminal legal measures."
• Why it matters: A major opposition party targeting a specific broadcaster with legal threats during an election period could spark a debate over the media environment, and is being interpreted as a move to sway public opinion.

Northern Gyeonggi conservative belt emerges as a key battleground

• What happened?: Both parties are pouring resources into northern Gyeonggi regions like Yeoncheon, Gapyeong, and Dongducheon. The Democratic Party is attempting to break through a conservative stronghold that has held for over 30 years, while the People Power Party is concentrating its efforts on defending these areas.
• Why it matters: Although northern Gyeonggi is traditionally a conservative stronghold, analysts suggest the political landscape has been shifting since the Lee Jae-myung government took office. The results here could sway the overall outcome in Gyeonggi Province.

National Assembly Developments

• Election of the second-half National Assembly leadership confirmed (June 5): Both parties have agreed to elect the leadership for the second half of the 22nd National Assembly on June 5. The Democratic Party had initially pushed for May 20, but reached a compromise after the People Power Party requested a delay until after the 6·3 local elections.

• Major National Assembly and Government schedule for May 21: The Presidential Office has scheduled a presidential advisory council meeting at 10:30 AM (Blue House main building) and a meeting of senior secretaries presided over by the President at 2:00 PM (Blue House main building). Ministerial schedules include a policy meeting with the Gwanak Businessmen Association at 7:30 AM and a K-Initiative inter-ministerial meeting at 10:00 AM.

Blue House and Government

• President to preside over senior secretaries meeting: President Lee Jae-myung is scheduled to personally preside over a senior secretaries meeting at the Blue House main building at 2:00 PM on the 21st. A meeting of the presidential advisory council is also scheduled for the morning. This indicates a dual focus on state affairs and messaging on public livelihoods during the election season.

• K-Initiative inter-ministerial meeting: A meeting regarding the K-Initiative is scheduled for 10:00 AM on the 21st, showing that the government is maintaining its policy drive for economic recovery and public livelihood even during the election period.

Ruling-Opposition Rivalry

• Core narrative of the 6·3 local elections: The ruling party (Democratic Party) frames the election as a vote of confidence in the Lee Jae-myung administration, calling for "judgment on insurrection and national normalization." The opposition party (People Power Party) appeals for "brakes on the Lee Jae-myung administration's runaway train and a balance of power," arguing against the intensification of a "ruling-minority, opposition-majority" parliament.

• Conflict over the Special Counsel Act on the cancellation of charges against Lee Jae-myung: The People Power Party is operating a special committee to block the bill, warning that the "Democratic Party will force the passage of the special counsel bill immediately after the local elections." The Democratic Party continues to emphasize the legitimacy of the bill.

5 sources

yna.co.kr

[오늘의 국회일정](20일·수) | 연합뉴스

yna.co.kr

국무총리 소속

yna.co.kr

여야, 오늘 본회의 열어 정치개혁 법안 처리 추진 | 연합뉴스

yna.co.kr

국회법 개정안 與주도 처리…정부조직 개편 맞춰 상임위 변경 | 연합뉴스

yna.co.kr

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Diplomacy and Security

• Vice Foreign Minister in the US for follow-up on ROK-US fact sheet: The Vice Foreign Minister is in the US to conduct working-level consultations on the security section of the fact sheet following the recent ROK-US summit call. The two leaders agreed to fully implement their agreements, and the Vice Minister's visit is expected to focus on coordinating the schedule for an upcoming US delegation visit to South Korea. Issues related to Coupang have been identified as a hurdle in negotiations.

• ISW reports South Korea considering "phased" participation in US-led multinational operations: The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported in its May 19 update that the South Korean government is considering "phased" participation in US-led multinational military operations. While specific details were not provided, the government’s security maneuvers are drawing international attention.

Upcoming Schedule

• May 21 (Thu), 10:30 AM: Presidential advisory council meeting presided over by President Lee Jae-myung (Blue House main building) — Monitoring the state affairs policy during the election period.
• May 21 (Thu), 2:00 PM: Senior secretaries meeting presided over by the President (Blue House main building) — Focus on livelihood and economic policies.
• June 3 (Wed): 9th Nationwide Simultaneous Local Elections and parliamentary by-elections — A total war for both parties as the first nationwide election under the Lee Jae-myung administration.
• June 5 (Fri): Election of the 22nd National Assembly's second-half leadership — An agreed-upon date that will serve as a watershed moment for the reorganization of parliamentary power.

Reporter's Perspective

With the official kickoff of the 6·3 local election campaign, all political energy is being funneled into the election race. While the Democratic Party's "judgment" frame clashes with the People Power Party's "check on power" logic, it is notable that internal leadership competition within the People Power Party has already surfaced regardless of the election results. The handling of the special counsel bill regarding the cancellation of charges against Lee Jae-myung post-election is likely to be a major trigger point. Furthermore, the election of the National Assembly leadership on June 5 will be the first test of inter-party negotiations following the local election results. In diplomacy and security, the primary focus for the next 1–2 weeks will be the outcomes of the Vice Foreign Minister's visit to the US, specifically whether the schedule for the US delegation's visit to Korea is finalized.