South Korea's 2026 Local Elections: DPK Eyes Historic Sweep as PPP Crumbles

South Korea's June 3 local elections could deliver a historic Democratic Party sweep as the PPP collapses to 17% approval following the martial law crisis.

South Korea is heading toward what could be the most lopsided local elections in its democratic history. With the June 3 vote just ten weeks away, the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) commands a 27-point lead over the People Power Party (PPP), whose approval has cratered to levels unseen since the martial law crisis that toppled former President Yoon Suk-yeol.

The question is no longer whether the DPK will win — but whether the PPP can survive as a viable opposition.

Voters will fill over 4,000 positions across every level of local government on June 3, a designated public holiday.

::stats
- **4,100+** — Total seats up for election
- **17** — Metropolitan mayors and governors
- **226** — District and county heads
- **3,860** — Local council members and education chiefs
- **140,000** — Foreign residents eligible to vote
::end

Several National Assembly by-elections will run concurrently, adding a parliamentary dimension to what is already the first nationwide referendum on President Lee Jae-myung's administration.

## The Polls Tell a Brutal Story

Every major survey paints the same picture: a ruling party surging and an opposition in freefall.

::chart bar
- **DPK (Democratic Party)** — 47
- **PPP (People Power Party)** — 20
- **RKP (Rebuilding Korea)** — 8
- **Reform Party** — 1
::end

President Lee's approval rating hit an all-time high of 67% on March 20, according to Gallup Korea. Meanwhile, the PPP recorded just 17% support in a February 27 Korea Times poll — its lowest since August 2025.

> **KEY STAT:** Polymarket gives the DPK a **92.7% implied probability** of winning the most local government seats. The PPP sits at 5.7%.

For full coverage, visit https://www.linos.ai/world/south-korea-2026-local-elections-dpk-ppp-polls/

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