The voting by party members in Honam, which will influence the outcome of the Democratic Party's leadership election on August 17, began on October 11 and will continue until October 14. Candidate Kim Min-seok is narrowly leading candidate Jung Cheong-rae by just 1.48 percentage points, excluding strategic regional weighting, indicating a highly competitive race that could be pivotal for the election results.
According to the Democratic Party, the results of the Honam voting will be announced on October 15. Honam is a stronghold for the party, with over 30% of the total party members residing in the region. Given the significant number of party members from Honam living in the Seoul and Gyeonggi areas, the results from this voting are expected to serve as a barometer for the overall election dynamics.
In response, candidates Kim, Jung, and Song Young-gil have been intensively campaigning in Honam to garner support. All three candidates are scheduled to participate in events in the region on the same day. During a recent TV debate held by KBC in Gwangju, the candidates emphasized their connections to Honam.
Kim described himself as a direct political descendant of former President Kim Dae-jung, stating, "I am an honorary citizen of Gwangju who spent three years in prison demanding the truth about the Gwangju Democratization Movement, and I am the grandson of a resident of Jindo, Jeonnam." Jung introduced himself as "the son-in-law of Honam," pledging to strengthen the Democratic Party in accordance with the spirit of Kim Dae-jung and the spirit of unity to regain power.
Song, hailing from Goheung in Jeonnam, remarked, "The progress and outcomes of the 800 trillion won semiconductor investment project will depend on who becomes the party leader. Since this is my hometown, I will take charge of it."
Key issues for the Honam region in this leadership election include the establishment of a semiconductor cluster in Gwangju and investments by Hyundai Motor Group in Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province. Some have raised concerns about perceived neglect of North Jeolla in comparison to the investment scale in Gwangju, leading to speculation that the election results may be unpredictable. The candidates are actively seeking support by addressing the success of mega projects in Gwangju and the concerns regarding the treatment of North Jeolla.
The third week of the primary season, which includes the Honam and Seoul-Gyeonggi primaries and the leadership election, is referred to as "Super Week." The winner from Honam, being the first to be determined, could establish a so-called "dominant narrative," making the choice of Honam voters crucial for the overall election outcome.
Meanwhile, in this leadership election, the voting will reflect 70% from delegates and party members and 30% from public opinion polls. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes, a preferential voting system will be used to determine the winner.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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