The Democratic Party achieved a significant victory in the June 3 local elections, winning 12 out of 16 regional leadership positions. However, the party's failure to reclaim the crucial Seoul mayoralty has sparked discussions among some lawmakers about accountability within the leadership. With the party's national convention approaching in August, competition for future leadership roles is intensifying.
Park Soo-hyun, the newly elected governor of Chungcheongnam-do and a former party spokesperson, cautioned on Facebook that failing to reflect on the election results and linking them to the upcoming leadership struggle could alienate public sentiment. "What we need to do now is to sincerely reflect on ourselves. Is demanding the leadership's resignation the best course of action?" he asked, emphasizing the need for personal accountability within the party.
Following the June 4 mayoral election, where Democratic candidate Jung Won-oh lost to Oh Se-hoon of the People Power Party, some party members expressed their dissatisfaction with party leader Jung Cheong-rae. Lawmaker Yoon Jun-byeong stated, "While the appearance of victory in the local elections is impressive, we cannot claim a complete win if we lost in Seoul." He pressed the party leader for accountability.
Similarly, fellow lawmaker Park Beom-gye remarked, "It may not be a defeat, but it certainly feels like a failure. Despite overall positive election results, it is embarrassing to call it a victory. Yet, there has been no acknowledgment of responsibility from the leadership."
Kang Deuk-gu, a lawmaker aligned with the pro-Lee Jae-myung faction, also noted, "There were areas where we could have won but ended up with disappointing results. Looking back, there were shortcomings from the nomination process to managing the election period. The leadership failed to capture the urgency felt on the ground."
Meanwhile, Jung Cheong-rae expressed gratitude to the public for their support, stating, "I am thankful to the people for giving the Democratic Party a significant victory, but it hurts that we could not reclaim Seoul."
Party Secretary-General Cho Seung-rae acknowledged the mixed feelings about the election results, saying, "While there are regrets, I believe this local election was a victory for the Democratic Party. I will remember the warm interest, affection, criticism, and encouragement shown during this election."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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