Koreans hit the polls on Wednesday to elect mayors, governors, local council members and regional education chiefs in crucial local elections that could set the path for the Lee Jae Myung administration in its second year in office.

Wednesday's local elections have become an assessment of President Lee Jae Myung's administration, as rival parties recast the vote as a choice between strength

Former presidents hit the campaign trail to support the conservative PPP, while the president urged voters to cast their ballots on social media

It is an opportunity for citizens to influence both the future of their communities and the direction of national politics. Every ballot cast carries that responsibility.

Polling for the 2026 local elections began simultaneously across 14,288 voting stations nationwide at 6 a.m. on Wednesday — with some voters already lining up before the doors…