Oh Se-hoon takes narrow lead in Seoul mayoral race as vote count nears completion
Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Oh Se-hoon of the People Power Party has taken a narrow lead in the Seoul mayoral race with 95.1% of votes counted.
- Oh is currently ahead of Democratic Party candidate Jung Won-oh by a slim margin of 11,727 votes.
- The election saw extended voting hours in one polling station due to a shortage of ballots.
Oh Se-hoon of the People Power Party has edged ahead in the Seoul mayoral election, according to the latest vote count. With 95.1% of ballots tallied, Oh leads Jung Won-oh of the Democratic Party by a razor-thin margin of 11,727 votes. Oh has secured 48.8% of the vote, while Jung has garnered 48.5%.
The race has been exceptionally close, highlighting a divided electorate in South Korea's capital. The election, held concurrently with local elections, experienced an unusual situation in one polling station in Songpa-gu, where voting hours were extended until 10 p.m. due to a shortage of ballots. This incident underscores the high turnout and intense interest in the mayoral contest.
This close contest reflects the broader political landscape, with both major parties vying for control and public support. The final outcome remains uncertain as the remaining votes are processed, but the current figures indicate a tight battle for the city's leadership.
Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.