Lee grapples with post-local election headwinds as party rift, ballot shortage issues deepen

“President Lee Jae Myung is grappling with a difficult political moment at home as a widening rift with ruling party leadership and public backlash over ballot shortages in June 3 local elections are pulling down his approval ratings. These political headwinds prompted Lee to remain focused on developments at home even during his diplomatic tour in Europe, including convening an unprecedented virtual meeting with senior presidential aides in Seoul and commenting on political issues through social media. The unease between Cheong Wa Dae and the leadership of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has grown following the party's less-than-satisfactory local election results. The DPK won 12 of the nation's 16 metropolitan mayoral and provincial governorship elections. However, it lost the Seoul mayoral race — widely regarded as the bellwether of national elections. The outcome, coupled with defeats in closely watched battleground districts in the parliamentary by-elections held concurrently with the local elections, fueled criticism of DPK Chairman Jung Chung-rae and triggered a debate

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