Democratic Party’s Kim Min-seok plans to visit Busan every two weeks
Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok visited the Busan Port Authority vessel on October 16, 2026, to inspect local logistics operations and announced plans to hold party supreme council meetings in Busan.
Democratic Party Leaders Focus on Busan Strategy
Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok stated that he plans to visit Busan every two weeks, following up on his commitment by hosting a party supreme council meeting at the Busan Metropolitan City Party office on October 16, 2026. President Lee Jae-myung also traveled to Busan on the same day, marking his second visit in three days following a prior trip on October 13.
With public sentiment in the capital area impacted by real estate regulations, securing seats along the Nakdong River belt—including Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam—remains a critical objective for overall election performance. A telephone survey conducted by Gallup Korea between October 13 and 15 among 1,003 adults nationwide found that 47% favored the opposition holding a majority to keep the government in check, while 34% supported a ruling party majority. Particularly, the response favoring the opposition holding a majority reached 55% in Seoul and 52% in Gyeonggi and Incheon, figures comparable to or even higher than the 53% recorded in the traditionally conservative region of Daegu and Gyeongbuk. However, in the Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam regions, support was evenly divided, with 36% favoring the ruling party and 40% backing the opposition.
President Lee Seeks Constitutional Recognition of Democratic Struggles
President Lee Jae-myung attended the 47th-anniversary ceremony of the Bu-Ma Democratic Struggle at the Busan City Hall auditorium on October 16, 2026, marking his first attendance at the event since taking office, KBS 뉴스 reported. During the ceremony, President Lee stated, The idea of enshrining the spirit of May 18 and the Bu-Ma Democratic Struggle in the constitutional preamble was something that both the ruling and opposition parties spoke of with one voice whenever the time came. Now is the time to put it into action, not just words.
While delivering his concluding remarks, President Lee paused and appeared moved to tears as he spoke of those who dedicated their lives to democracy in the country.
Kim Min-Seok Connects Presidential Initiatives to Busan Maritime Vision
Kim Min-seok outlined a long-term vision for Busan during an inspection aboard a port guidance vessel operated by the Busan Port Authority, 뉴시스 reported. Accompanied by maritime officials and lawmakers, Kim connected past presidential initiatives to current policy goals. “The Democratic Party is the party that connects the dreams of the leaders who built the maritime state of South Korea and the maritime capital of Busan,” Kim said, referencing Roh Moo-hyun’s North Port development, Moon Jae-in’s Gadedo project, and President Lee Jae-myung’s maritime capital strategy. Before the briefing, Kim listened to an explanation from the Busan Port Authority detailing that Busan handles 77.4% of the nation’s container cargo, ranking seventh globally in container cargo volume and second in transshipment cargo volume.
The party aims to challenge the current local political makeup where 17 of Busan's 18 regional assembly seats are held by the People Power Party, alongside one independent legislator, despite Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo representing the Democratic Party. To address logistical and urban development needs, party leadership pledged legislative and policy support for local initiatives, including the proposed dome stadium in Busan’s North Port.
Targeting the North District for Future Elections
With local governance showing shifts—such as the Democratic Party winning seven out of 16 district head and county chief positions in recent local elections—party strategists view the upcoming general election as competitive if voter turnout and civic engagement remain high. The primary target for securing a strategic foothold is Busan’s North District 갑 constituency. The district was previously represented by Mayor Jeon Jae-soo before he won the mayoral election, though a subsequent by-law election was won by Han Dong-hoon.
Tensions between the ruling and opposition parties remain visible around these regional contests. Following the supreme council meeting, Democratic Party spokesperson Shin Hye-young raised allegations regarding Han Dong-hoon’s family, prompting a sharp rebuke from Han, who characterized the remarks as repetitive political attacks.