▲ In this file photo, Democratic Party leader Rep. Jung Chung-rae (R) and People Power Party leader Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok (L) attend a lantern-lighting ceremony to celebrate Buddha's birthday at the National Assembly in Seoul on April 30, 2026. (Yonhap)
▲ Jung Chung-rae, leader of the ruling Democratic Party, speaks during a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul on May 13, 2026, calling for "harsh judgment" against "insurrectionist forces" tied to ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his failed martial law attempt. (Yonhap)
▲ People Power Party (PPP) leader Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok (2nd from L, front) and other PPP lawmakers attend a ceremony to mark the launch of its election committee at the party's headquarters in Yeouido in western Seoul on May 13, 2026. The lawmakers denounced the ruling Democratic Party's unilateral push for a special counsel bill to investigate allegedly fabricated indictments. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

rival parties-local elections

Ruling, opposition parties rally support for 'judgment' in upcoming elections

SEOUL, May 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's ruling and main opposition parties are making similar calls in rare unison for voter support that the outcome of the upcoming local elections will serve as judgment against the other side, political observers here noted Wednesday.

The ruling Democratic Party (DP) is wooing support for what it calls a "harsh judgment" against "insurrectionist forces" tied to ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his failed martial law attempt.

The conservative People Power Party (PPP), too, is calling for judgment against what it claims is a criminal organization and its leader, the DP and President Lee Jae Myung, respectively.

The DP has framed the June 3 local elections as a crucial election to "normalize" the country and root out what it calls lingering insurrectionist forces linked to Yoon's short-lived martial law declaration in December 2024.

"The insurrection is not over, and the insurrectionist forces behind it, who have shown no sign of remorse, are still active in various places," DP leader Jung Chung-rae said Sunday in a ceremony marking the launch of the party's election committee.

Rep. Jung also called on voters earlier this week to make what he called a "historic judgment" to prevent the return of the so-called "Yoon Again" forces that "undermined the constitutional order through the insurrection."

He further stepped up his criticism against the PPP on Wednesday, saying the insurrectionist forces should face "harsh judgment" in the upcoming elections and that even the slightest remnants of the insurrection should be eradicated. Also up for grabs in the June 3 vote are 14 National Assembly seats, many of which were vacated by lawmakers who resigned to run in the local elections.

The conservative PPP, too, has labeled the upcoming elections as a referendum on President Lee and the ruling party.

"The local elections will serve as judgment on the criminal organization, the DP, and its ringleader, Lee," PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok said last week at a party event in Suwon, south of Seoul.

In an effort to rally conservative votes, the PPP has focused on highlighting controversies surrounding the DP's unilateral push for a special counsel bill to investigate allegedly fabricated indictments, criticizing the move as an attempt to shield Lee from his criminal trials, which were suspended after Lee took office in June last year.

"Even a president should go to prison if he commits a crime," Rep. Jang said, echoing remarks Lee made in 2017 after the Constitutional Court upheld the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye.

The proposed special counsel bill calls for an independent probe into allegations that the prosecution under the previous Yoon administration had fabricated evidence to indict then opposition leader Lee in multiple cases, including those involving alleged illegal remittances to North Korea and a development corruption scandal.

The proposed bill, if passed, would give an independent special counsel the authority to decide whether to proceed with or drop 12 cases, eight of which are connected to Lee, if evidence of fabrication is found.

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