By Ian Werther in News — 13 Mar 2026

Jeon Jae-su enters Busan mayoral race, pledges to relocate Oceans and Fisheries Ministry

A leading candidate for Busan mayor in the June 3 local elections has entered the race. Jeon Jae-su, a member of South Korea’s ruling Democratic Party (Minjoo) who represents Busan North District, is regarded as one of the frontrunners in the contest.

In a post on his Facebook page on the 13th, Jeon said the Busan mayoral candidate recruitment process had been completed and pledged to move forward with “speedy execution” to produce strong results, aiming to work alongside Busan residents.

Interior view of Beomeosa Buddhist temple during a religious ceremony, with paper lanterns on the ceiling, red columns, a gold statue of the seated Buddha, and two Buddhist monks seen from behind, in Busan, South Korea. — Representative image for context; not directly related to the specific event in this article. License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Jeon framed his campaign around transforming Busan into the country’s maritime capital, beginning with the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan. He said the move would help establish Busan as a powerful growth hub at the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula, with citizens by his side.

Within the Democratic Party, there is debate about how to nominate a candidate. While some party members have argued for a single-nominee approach, party officials say the process will proceed with a primary, and the final decision on whether a primary will occur will come after screening by the party’s nomination management committee.

Ardea cinerea (Grey heron) in the water of a pond near trees in Busan Citizens Park a sunny day with blue sky in Busan, South Korea. — Representative image for context; not directly related to the specific event in this article. License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Interviews with Busan mayoral candidates are scheduled for the 16th as part of the pre-primary screening process. Jeon reiterated on May 8 that the primary is the principle, noting that former Busan City Party Chairman Lee Jae-sung has already registered as a preliminary candidate and has been traveling across Busan to rally support.

Context for U.S. readers: Busan, on Korea’s southeastern coast, is Korea’s largest port city and a major logistics and manufacturing hub. A candidate’s push to relocate a national ministry to Busan signals efforts to decentralize government functions and spur regional growth, with potential implications for supply chains, investment, and competitive dynamics in Northeast Asia. The outcome of the local race could influence national policy signals on regional development and Korea’s economic and security priorities in the era of closer U.S.-Korean cooperation.

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