President Moon facing tough election fight in South Korea's biggest cities

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SEOUL (BLOOMBERG) -
President Moon Jae-in's Democratic Party could be headed for its biggest defeat in five years in mayoral elections on Wednesday (April 7) in South Korea's two biggest cities, a troubling sign for his progressive bloc just 11 months ahead of a presidential vote.

Surveys show conservatives with commanding leads in by-elections in Seoul and Busan, fuelled by public anger over real estate prices in major cities that have soared under Mr Moon. Polls are open from 6am to 8pm.

Losses in the cities that account for about a quarter of South Korea's population could slam the brakes on Mr Moon's agenda to increase public employment and a push for larger fiscal spending. It would also serve as warning to his Democratic Party that it needs to revamp its policies if it wants to keep the presidency when Mr Moon's single, five-year term ends in 2022.

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/president-moon-facing-tough-election-fight-in-south-koreas-biggest-cities