Is Joo Jin-woo the Dark Horse of Busan’s Mayoral Race? Discover His Rising Support!

[iNews24 Reporter Park Chae-o] As the nationwide local elections approach in June, a recent poll shows Joo Jin-woo, a National Assembly member from the People Power Party (PPP) representing Busan’s Haeundae district, has emerged as a dark horse, securing a double-digit approval rating in his debut appearance.

The survey, conducted by polling firm InnerTech Systems from February 5 to 6 at the request of the Busan Press Association, reveals that in the suitability ratings for the next Busan mayor, Joo garnered 11.4% support. This places him second within the PPP, behind current Mayor Park Hyung-jun, who secured 21.1%.

This result is particularly significant as Joo outperformed fellow PPP member Kim Do-woop by 1.9 percentage points. Kim, who has consistently appeared in Busan mayoral polls, received 9.5% support.

Notably, Joo recorded an impressive 11.6% support among voters in their 40s, a demographic typically favoring the Democratic Party. This makes him the leading candidate among opposition figures. Among PPP supporters, Joo received 23.8% approval, second only to Mayor Park’s 42.6%. These figures suggest that moderate and conservative voters in the region view Joo as a promising new leader.

Analysts believe Joo’s competitiveness could shake up the mayoral race, which has been dominated by incumbent Mayor Park.

In Busan, a traditionally conservative stronghold, the PPP’s party support (40.7%) now trails the Democratic Party’s (41.9%) by 1.2 percentage points. This shift indicates voters’ desire for fresh leadership.

A local political insider commented, “Busan’s political landscape, once a conservative bastion, has changed dramatically in recent years. This shift reflects not only disappointment with the conservative government but also dissatisfaction with established politicians. A new strategy responding to this changing public sentiment is crucial.”

In the overall candidate suitability ratings, Jeon Jae-soo from the Democratic Party leads with 34.1%. He is followed by Mayor Park Hyung-jun (PPP) at 21.1%, Joo Jin-woo (PPP) at 11.4%, Kim Do-woop (PPP) at 9.5%, former Busan city party chair Lee Jae-sung (Democratic Party) at 5.3%, former Haeundae District Office head Hong Soon-hun (Democratic Party) at 3.9%, and Reform Party candidate Jeong Yi-han at 2.0%.

However, undecided voters account for 12.6%, including those who chose other candidates (2.9%), no suitable candidates (5.1%), and don’t know (4.6%). This suggests that the final weeks of the election will be crucial, with candidates vying to attract these moderate voters.

The survey involved 1,008 Busan residents aged 18 and older, using a mixed method of 80% wireless virtual numbers and 20% landline RDD through automated phone interviews. The response rate was 4.0%, with a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.

Weighting was applied based on the population data from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety as of December 2025, accounting for gender, age, and regional distribution. For more details, visit the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission website.