South Korea’s ruling Democratic Party (DP) appeared headed for a sweeping victory in local elections, winning or leading in 13 of 16 metropolitan mayoral and gubernatorial races and capturing key battlegrounds including Busan, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province. With most votes counted early Thursday, DP candidate Chung Won-o also held a narrow lead over incumbent People Power Party (PPP) candidate Oh Se-hoon in the closely watched Seoul mayoral race, while the conservative party looked set to retain only Daegu, North Gyeongsang and South Gyeongsang provinces.

The elections, held one year after President Lee Jae Myung took office, were accompanied by controversy