South Korea ruling party wins local elections but likely loses Seoul mayoralty amid ballot chaos

South Korea's ruling Democratic Party has secured a majority of seats in local elections held on Thursday, early vote counts indicate. However, the party is poised to lose the mayoral race in the capital, Seoul, amidst controversy surrounding a shortage of ballot papers.

Opposition People Power Party (PPP) incumbent Mayor Oh Se-hoon is projected to clinch a narrow victory in Seoul, leading his Democratic Party challenger, Chong Won-o, by a slim margin. National Election Commission tallies showed Democratic Party candidates winning in Busan and leading in 12 out of 16 mayoral and provincial contests nationwide, though counting was ongoing in some areas.

The potential loss of Seoul, South Korea's largest city, represents a symbolic setback for President Lee Jae-myung, despite his party's broader electoral gains. Analysts suggest that control of the capital carries significant political weight, and this outcome could temper the ruling party's claims of a decisive national mandate, even with a majority of local governments secured.

Despite the setback in Seoul, the Democratic Party's overall performance suggests Lee retains substantial nationwide support. This is partly attributed to robust export growth, fueled by an AI chip boom and a subsequent stock market rally, which has bolstered his approval ratings during his first year in office.

The election was disrupted in parts of Seoul due to ballot shortages at multiple polling stations, a result of higher-than-expected turnout. These shortages forced some voters to wait for hours or leave without casting ballots, leading to extended voting times at affected sites. The incident sparked protests from some voters and conservative groups, with PPP figures calling for a halt to vote counting and a rerun of the race, deeming it "tainted." The National Election Commission apologized and pledged a full investigation, but stated the incidents did not warrant delaying the election or holding a rerun.

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