PM Kim Min-seok to Resign After Local Elections to Run for Party Leadership

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok is expected to resign from his position following the 2026 local elections, as reports indicate he has decided to run for the leadership of his party.

According to reporting from Kyunghyang Shinmun, Kim has solidified his decision to seek the party leadership and is likely to formally express his intent to resign after the conclusion of the local elections.

Internal Party Tensions

Signs of an internal power struggle have already emerged. Chosun Ilbo reported that Kim Min-seok “liked” a social media post critical of Jung Chung-rae, a move interpreted by observers as an early indication of a competition for party control.

Government Transition and Personnel Shifts

On June 1, 2026, Kim held a dinner with cabinet members at his official residence. This gathering occurs amid growing observations that he will step down before the ruling party’s national convention following the local elections.

The Blue House has indicated that it will resume personnel appointments once the local elections are over. Money Today reports that attention is now shifting toward potential successors for the Prime Minister’s office.

Yonhap News noted that speculation regarding a successor to Prime Minister Kim is already circulating within political circles as the possibility of his resignation becomes more apparent.