In the June 3 local elections, the Incheon area saw an overwhelming victory for the Democratic Party.

In the 9th nationwide simultaneous local elections held on the 3rd, the Democratic Party captured 8 of 11 basic-level local governments including the Incheon mayoralty, and swept 38 of 45 metropolitan council seats. This mirrored the clean sweep achieved by the People Power Party four years ago.

Park Chan-dae of the Democratic Party defeated People Power Party candidate Yoo Jung-bok, who was seeking a third term, by 6.78 percentage points to become the ninth popularly elected Incheon mayor.

The Democratic Party won in 8 of the 11 basic-level jurisdictions. Park Hyung-woo secured a fourth term as Gyeyang District head, and Cha Jun-taek also achieved a third consecutive term as Bupyeong District head. Kim Jeong-sik, elected as Michuhol District head, Jang Jeong-min, elected as Ongjin County chief, and Lee Byeong-rae, elected as Namdong District head, each won rematches against People Power Party incumbents Lee Young-hoon (Michuhol), Moon Kyung-bok (Ongjin), and Park Jong-hyo (Namdong) from four years ago.

Son Hwa-jung in Yeongjong District, Gu Jae-yong in Seo District, and Kim Jin-gyu in Geomdan District were elected as basic-level chiefs for the first time. In particular, due to administrative reorganization, the first Democratic Party basic-level chiefs have been elected in Yeongjong and Geomdan, which will be newly established as districts this July.

The People Power Party retained three basic-level posts. Lee Jae-ho won a third term as Yeonsu District head, and Kim Chan-jin of Jemulpo District and Park Yong-cheol of Ganghwa County were each re-elected.

This is the exact opposite of four years ago, when People Power Party candidate Yoo Jung-bok was elected Incheon mayor, the party took 8 of 10 county and district heads, and yielded only two, including Bupyeong and Gyeyang.

The Democratic Party also seized control of the Incheon City Council. Of the 45 seats, the party took 38, or 84%, making it the majority again after four years. The People Power Party won only seven.

In the parliamentary by-elections held in Yeonsu A and Gyeyang B, the Democratic Party won both. In Yeonsu A, Song Young-gil achieved a sixth term, and in Gyeyang B, former presidential office spokesperson Kim Nam-jun won the seat in the former constituency of President Lee Jae Myung. As a result, 11 of the 13 lawmakers from Incheon are once again with the Democratic Party.

In the Incheon superintendent of education race, which was a three-way contest between two progressive candidates and a single conservative-centrist unity candidate, the progressive incumbent Do Seong-hun became the first three-term superintendent in Incheon.

Park Chan-dae, the Incheon mayor-elect from the Democratic Party, said, “Thank you to the citizens for making a decision toward ‘Great Incheon’,” and added, “We will move in perfect step with the central government and repay you with overwhelming results.”‘

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party winners from the Incheon area who prevailed in this June 3 local election paid their respects that day at the Liberty Protection Tower in Subong Park in Michuhol District.