Debate Dodging and Unofficially Elected Candidates Undermine Local Democracy

Debate dodging and unopposed victories weaken local democracy

In the upcoming June 3 local elections, 513 candidates have been elected unopposed, securing victory simply by registering their candidacies.

Among the unopposed winners were three heads of local governments responsible for regional administration. The average candidate-to-seat ratio in this election was 1.81 to 1, matching the record low set in the 2022 elections.

There are doubts about whether local elections marked by weakened competition and limited choices can truly realize grassroots democracy.

According to the results of candidate registration for this election, conducted on Thursday and Friday and compiled by the National Election Commission, a total of 510 local council candidates were elected uncontested. They include 108 metropolitan and provincial council members and 305 municipal and district or county council members.

Residents in 307 constituencies have effectively lost the opportunity to evaluate candidates' qualifications and campaign pledges and to vote out unfit contenders.

In the Honam region (the country's southwest), many unopposed winners came from the liberal ruling Democratic Party of Korea, while in the Yeongnam region (the southeast), many came from the conservative opposition People Power Party. This is evidence that as local politics becomes entrenched around the two major parties, more districts are going without genuine electoral competition.

In Gwangju, a stronghold of the Democratic Party, two district heads elected unopposed were both party members.

The People Power Party failed to field a candidate in the mayoral race in Siheung, part of the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area, effectively handing victory to a Democratic Party candidate. It is the first time a mayor of a Greater Seoul city with a population of more than 500,000 has been elected uncontested. The party excuses itself by saying it had difficulty recruiting someone willing to run in the city, where they would stand little chance of winning.

Local governments where one party dominates elections face a high risk of corruption and economic stagnation. In a system where securing a party nomination virtually guarantees election, local election candidates cannot help but cater to local lawmakers who control nominations rather than serving voters.

Politicians should no longer ignore the abnormal rise in unopposed elections. It is worth considering a yes-or-no vote if there is only one candidate, and voters should be provided with the information necessary to evaluate the candidate's qualifications. Under election law, candidates elected unopposed are barred from canvassing for votes or making campaign pledges.

Equally concerning is the tendency of some ruling party candidates to avoid one-on-one debates with opposition candidates, as this deprives voters of the right to assess the candidates.

In the Seoul mayoral election, Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate, repeatedly proposed a one-on-one debate with Chong Won-o of the Democratic Party, but Chong declined.

In the by-election for Busan's Bukgu-A constituency, Park Min-shik, the candidate of the People Power Party, and Han Dong-hoon, an independent candidate, are calling for televised debates with Ha Jung-woo of the Democratic Party, but Ha's camp says it will not participate in any TV debates other than the legally mandated debate organized by the election commission.

In the June 3 local elections, Seoul has 8,211,461 registered voters — the second-largest electorate after Gyeonggi Province — but in terms of public attention, the Seoul mayoral race draws interest comparable to that of a presidential election. Voters want to know what kind of people the candidates seeking to lead the nation's capital are, what policies they plan to campaign on and the like. It is the candidates' responsibility to actively participate in debates so that voters can properly evaluate their policies and vision.