South Korea's ruling Democratic Party secured a landslide in Wednesday's local elections, winning 12 of 16 key races and strengthening President Lee Jae Myung's mandate.
The main opposition People Power Party retained Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province. In Busan, Democratic Party candidate Chun Jae-soo defeated the incumbent to retake the city after eight years. Choo Kyung-ho of the People Power Party won the Daegu mayoral race.
The Seoul mayoral contest remained too close to call, with incumbent Oh Se-hoon of the People Power Party holding a narrow lead. The National Election Commission rejected calls for a revote after ballot shortages at 14 polling stations in Seoul.
Independent candidate Han Dong-hoon won the Busan Buk-A parliamentary by-election. Turnout reached 61 percent, the second highest since nationwide local elections began in 1995.
