▲ 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)

(2nd LD) local elections-Seoul race

(2nd LD) Incumbent Seoul Mayor Oh wins reelection to secure 5th term

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES throughout)

SEOUL, June 4 (Yonhap) -- Incumbent Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon of the People Power Party (PPP) won his fifth term Thursday, narrowly defeating Democratic Party (DP) candidate Chong Won-o in a tight mayoral race that was decided in the final stages of ballot counting.

Oh was declared winner shortly after 10 a.m., with 97.92 percent of ballots counted.

Oh had 48.95 percent of the votes cast against the ruling party's Chong at 48.33 percent, according to the National Election Commission.

Chong had conceded his defeat at around 9:30 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 7:18 a.m. Oh's lead had since widened, with the difference tallied at over 30,000 votes.

"I congratulate Candidate Oh Se-hoon for his victory. I accept the choice of the citizens with a heavy and humble heart," the DP candidate said in his concession speech.

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. Through the win, Oh secured his third consecutive and fifth non-consecutive term as mayor of Seoul.

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