During the 8th Local Elections held on June 1, new heads of NEAR Korean member local governments were elected except for Busan-si, Jeollanam-do, and Gyeongsangbuk-do. The newly-elected heads will start their four-year terms on July 1. Accordingly, there will be a new mayor of Ulsan Metropolitan City, the current NEAR chair.

Korea has implemented the local self-governing system since the direct elections of local government heads began in 1995.