▲ This composite file photo shows campaigning activities of Chong Won-o (L), Seoul mayor candidate of the Democratic Party, and incumbent Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, in Seoul on June 2, 2026. (Yonhap)

local elections-Seoul race

Incumbent Seoul Mayor Oh leads DP's Chong in tight local election race

SEOUL, June 4 (Yonhap) -- Incumbent Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon narrowly led Democratic Party candidate Chong Won-o in the Seoul mayoral election Thursday after Oh overtook his ruling party rival in the last stretch of the ballot counting, election data showed.

According to the National Election Commission, Oh of the People Power Party (PPP) was leading the race by earning 48.86 percent of the vote, while Chong trailed with 48.42 percent, with 97.23 percent of ballots counted as of 9:07 a.m.

Chong had maintained a slim lead over Oh throughout most of the ballot counting before the PPP candidate pulled ahead for the first time at around 7:18 a.m.

The mayoral race was part of nationwide June 3 local elections held exactly one year after the Lee Jae Myung administration took office on June 4.

Recent surveys conducted ahead of the elections had shown Chong outpacing the incumbent mayor. Oh is seeking to win his third consecutive and fifth non-consecutive term as mayor of Seoul.

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