Will Chong Won-oh win the 2026 Seoul Mayoral Election

The 2026 Seoul mayoral election is one of the headline contests in South Korea’s nationwide local elections, scheduled for June 3, 2026. The race centers on Democratic Party candidate Chong Won‑o, a former three‑term district chief seen as closely aligned with President Lee Jae‑myung, against incumbent conservative mayor Oh Se‑hoon of the People Power Party. Recent polls show a competitive but slightly center‑left‑tilting landscape: several surveys have Chong leading Oh by high single‑ to low double‑digit margins, though at least one late‑May poll has them effectively tied within the margin of error. Analysts frame the Seoul race as both a referendum on national politics and a test of voter sentiment on issues like housing affordability, inequality, and urban development, where the two candidates offer contrasting visions.