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Preliminary Registration Starts as Democratic Party Splits Over Merger Ahead of June 3 Elections

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  • Officials prepare for preliminary candidate registration at the Gyeonggi Provincial Election Commission in Suwon, south of Seoul, on Feb. 2, 2026, ahead of the June 3 local elections. (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    Officials prepare for preliminary candidate registration at the Gyeonggi Provincial Election Commission in Suwon, south of Seoul, on Feb. 2, 2026, ahead of the June 3 local elections. (Yonhap) Source Full size
  • This undated file photo shows Jang Dong-hyeok (L), leader of the main opposition People Power Party, and Jung Chung-rae, chief of the ruling Democratic Party. (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    This undated file photo shows Jang Dong-hyeok (L), leader of the main opposition People Power Party, and Jung Chung-rae, chief of the ruling Democratic Party. (Yonhap) Source Full size

Preliminary Candidate Registration Begins in Suwon The registration drive opened on Feb 2, 2026 at the Gyeonggi Provincial Election Commission in Suwon. Citizens aged 18 and older may file as preliminary candidates, which permits them to open campaign offices, distribute name cards, and wear campaign sashes [1]. Election officials prepared the venue, and PPP leader Jang Dong‑hyeok and DP chief Jung Chung‑rae attended the ceremony [1]. This phase precedes the formal filing deadline of May 14‑15, 2026 [1].

June 3 Local Elections Set to Test President Lee Jae Myung’s Administration Voters will choose mayors and governors for 17 metropolitan cities and provinces, plus superintendents of education and local council members [1]. The contest is widely viewed as a barometer of President Lee Jae Myung’s first year in office [1]. The ruling Democratic Party is pushing for a landslide, citing public resentment toward former President Yoon Suk‑yeol’s 2024 martial‑law episode [1]. The opposition People Power Party centers its campaign on perceived failures in housing and livelihood policies [1].

Democratic Party Faces Internal Conflict Over Merger with Rebuilding Korea Party The DP is divided over a proposed merger with the minor Rebuilding Korea Party, with factions accusing each other of power grabs [2]. Supreme Council member Lee Un‑ju warned the merger could turn the party into a vehicle for Jung Chung‑rae and Cho Kuk, likening the dispute to a civil war [2]. Party leader Jung Chung‑rae advanced the merger without broader consultation, arguing that even a modest vote gain could be decisive in a tight election [2]. Opponents claim the move aims to secure Jung’s re‑election at the August party convention [2].

Merger Debate Highlights Power Struggle Ahead of August Party Convention cabinet minister was filmed urging a DP lawmaker to disclose any secret deal, stating that “dividing the spoils is unacceptable” [2]. Prime Minister Kim Min‑seok, at a press briefing, said he would focus on state affairs and declared that the era of carving up shares had ended [2]. Analysts note the merger dispute may reshape the DP’s electoral strategy and hinder its ability to present a unified front against the PPP [2].

Sources

Timeline

May 2024 – Lee Jae Myung assumes the presidency after winning the March election, marking the start of an administration that the ruling Democratic Party (DP) later cites as a “first year in office” in 2026 [1][3].

2024 – Former President Yoon Suk Yeol attempts a short‑lived martial‑law declaration, a move the DP later leverages as a rallying point against the Yoon legacy [1][3].

Jan 22, 2026 – DP leader Jung Chung‑rae announces a proposal to merge with the minor Rebuilding Korea Party, urging swift working‑level talks to broaden the ruling bloc before the June 3 local elections and linking the move to the joint presidential campaign that launched Lee Jae Myung’s government [3][4][5].

Jan 22, 2026 – Rebuilding Korea Party head Cho Kuk replies cautiously, saying he will listen to public and party members before deciding, while noting overlapping voter bases in Jeolla Province [4][5].

Feb 2, 2026 – An internal rupture erupts in the DP over the merger; Supreme Council member Lee Un‑ju warns it could turn the party into “the party of Jung Chung‑rae and Cho Kuk,” invoking civil‑war rhetoric, and Moon Jeong‑bog rebukes her remarks as insulting [2].

Feb 2, 2026 – Prime Minister Kim Min‑seok signals opposition to factional bargaining over the merger, declaring “the era of carving up shares disappeared long ago” at a press briefing [2].

Feb 2, 2026 – Preliminary candidate registration opens at the Gyeonggi Provincial Election Commission in Suwon, allowing citizens 18 and over to register, open campaign offices, and wear sashes; PPP leader Jang Dong‑hyeok and DP chief Jung Chung‑rae attend the launch [1].

May 14‑15, 2026 – Official candidate registration window opens, forcing parties to finalize their slates shortly before the June 3 election [1].

June 3, 2026 – Local elections will fill 17 mayor‑governor seats, superintendents, and council members, serving as a barometer of President Lee’s first year and of People Power Party’s standing [1].

Aug 2026 – The DP plans to hold its party convention, where leader Jung may seek re‑election, a factor driving urgency in merger talks to secure extra votes under new voting‑system changes [2].

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