▲ 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)

(LEAD) local elections-Seoul race

(LEAD) Incumbent Seoul Mayor Oh leads in local election race; DP's Chong concedes defeat

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES throughout)

SEOUL, June 4 (Yonhap) -- Incumbent Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon narrowly led Democratic Party (DP) candidate Chong Won-o in the Seoul mayoral election Thursday, election data showed, while the ruling party candidate conceded defeat.

According to the National Election Commission, Oh of the People Power Party (PPP) was leading the race by earning 48.94 percent of the vote, while Chong trailed with 48.34 percent, with 97.7 percent of ballots counted as of 9:07 a.m.

Oh is also soon expected to speak to the public on the Seoul mayoral race result.

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 7:18 a.m.

The mayoral race was part of nationwide June 3 local elections held exactly one year after President Lee Jae Myung's administration took office 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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