Nine Gyeonggi candidates achieve 'sweep victory' in local elections

Nine candidates across Gyeonggi province have secured comprehensive victories in the recent local elections, achieving a "sweep" by winning in every single neighborhood within their respective municipalities. This decisive outcome includes five winners from the Democratic Party and four from the People Power Party, demonstrating broad electoral success in the region.

In Suwon, Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-joon secured a resounding victory, winning all 44 districts after a much closer contest four years prior. He garnered 59.51% of the vote, defeating his People Power Party opponent by over 130,000 votes. This win is seen as a validation of his personal appeal as an incumbent, particularly in a city where local allegiances have historically been strong.

Goyang saw a significant shift, with Democratic Party candidate Min Kyung-sun unseating the incumbent People Power Party mayor by a substantial margin. Min Kyung-sun won across all 44 districts, even in areas traditionally favoring the People Power Party. This victory is attributed to voter dissatisfaction with the incumbent's performance, citing issues like poor communication, a controversial city hall relocation, and budget failures.

Other notable sweep victories include Democratic Party's Han Dae-hee in Gunpo and People Power Party's Shin Gye-yong in Gwacheon, who both reclaimed or solidified their positions by winning every district. Shin Gye-yong achieved the highest vote share among all People Power Party local government heads in Gyeonggi.

However, six candidates narrowly missed achieving a complete sweep, losing in just one neighborhood each. These near-misses occurred in cities like Pocheon, Anyang, Uiwang, Hanam, Yeoju, and Yangpyeong, highlighting the close competition in specific local areas despite broader electoral trends.