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Jung Chung-rae, leader of the Democratic Party, greets civil servants at the Jeju Provincial Office during a budget policy council meeting on September 17. / Source: Yonhap News

The Democratic Party (DP) is shifting into campaign mode ahead of next June’s nationwide local elections, with party leader Jung Chung-rae embarking on a nationwide tour and names of potential candidates for key posts beginning to surface.

Since pledging in August to “devote everything to winning next year’s local elections,” Jung has formed a special election task force led by Secretary-General Cho Seung-rae, while taking direct charge as head of talent recruitment. Ahead of the November budget session, he has presided over budget policy councils across the country, visiting Daejeon and Chungcheong, Daegu and North Gyeongsang, Gyeonggi, and Jeju, with recent stops in Jeonju on September 16 and Gwangju on September 18.

Within the DP, competition is already building around possible contenders for major metropolitan leadership posts. In Seoul, seen as the most hotly contested battleground, names floated include lawmakers Jun Hyun-hee, Seo Young-kyo, Park Hong-keun, and Park Ju-min, as well as former lawmakers Hong Ik-pyo and Park Yong-jin. Some speculate Prime Minister Kim Min-seok or even Jung himself could run.

For Gyeonggi Province, Governor Kim Dong-yeon may face a field of rivals including former Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae, lawmakers Cho Jeong-sik, Kim Byung-joo, Han Jun-ho, Lee Un-ju, and Yeom Tae-young. Elsewhere, Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik is mentioned for South Chungcheong, Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs Woo Sang-ho for Gangwon, and Oceans Minister Jun Jae-soo for Busan.

The DP has also intensified its attacks on PPP local leaders, naming Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, and Gangwon Governor Kim Jin-tae as figures allegedly linked to the “insurrection.”

Party insiders see new opportunities in Busan as well. Several PPP district chiefs are embroiled in legal and ethical scandals, while recent polls showed Busan Mayor Park Hyung-joon slipping to second place.

Still, DP rules could complicate the race. Article 25(2) of the party charter requires Supreme Council members to resign at least six months before running for governor or mayor, setting a December 3 deadline. That could affect several prominent names, including Jun Hyun-hee in Seoul and Kim Byung-joo, Han Jun-ho, and Lee Un-ju in Gyeonggi, raising concerns that resignations could leave leadership gaps. Under Article 112(3), if a majority of the party leader and Supreme Council members step down, an emergency committee must be formed.