June 27, 1995 (Tue.) The 1st Nationwide Simultaneous Local Elections

Although local elections revived in 1991 in 30 years, the Local Government Head Elections had not been held yet. Under the circumstances, the National Assembly unanimously passed the Law for Political Reform allowing residents to directly elect their local government heads. Accordingly, four local elections were held at the same time, completing the local government system.
Finally, four local elections-the mayor and governor elections, the district·city·county officer elections, the city councilor and provincial assemblyman elections, and the district·city·county councilor elections- were held at the same time across the country on June 27, 1995 for the first time in the nation’s history. The 1st Nationwide Simultaneous local election was the first of its kind nationwide, under the Act on the Election of Public Officials and the Prevention of Election Malpractices, which had been newly enacted by integrating all the election laws applied to each election.
The 1st Nationwide Simultaneous local elections presented an overture to a “New Era of Three Kims,” creating intense competition in the election campaign. Mr. Kim Dae-jung, who had declared retirement after failing in the 14th presidential election, resumed political activities and Mr. Kim, Jong-pil, who played a big role in launching the Kim Young-sam administration by contributing to the “three party merger” in 1990, left the Democratic Liberal Party to create the United Liberal Democrats.
The results reflected the fierce competition. The Democratic Liberal Party, Democratic Party and United Liberal Democrats each won in their own turf, highlighting the regional division. The Democratic Liberal Party dominated in the southeastern area, the Democratic Party in the capital area and southwestern area and the United Liberal Democrats in Choongchung or the central part of Korea. Just as in the Presidential and National Assembly Elections, regionalism was featured in this election.