Kim Min-seok, a candidate for the leadership of the Democratic Party, secured a victory over Jeong Cheong-rae in the Gyeonggi and Seoul regional primary held on August 16, following his win in the Ho-nam region the previous day. This consecutive success positions Kim favorably in the race for party leadership.
In the primary results announced at the KINTEX in Gyeonggi, Kim received 84,442 votes in Gyeonggi and 63,803 votes in Seoul, surpassing Jeong, who garnered 83,832 votes and 63,206 votes, respectively. Song Young-gil received 12,530 votes in Gyeonggi and 9,880 votes in Seoul.
With victories in both Ho-nam and the capital region, where a significant number of party members reside, Kim is one step closer to becoming the party leader.
Before the results were announced, the candidates participated in a final joint presentation in Seoul, where they aimed to appeal to voters. Given that the primary was held in Gyeonggi and Seoul, regions with a large number of party members, the candidates made a concerted effort to secure support.
Jeong emphasized the reforms he completed during his year as party leader, pledging to continue as a strong reformist leader if re-elected. He stated, "I have worked diligently with party members to address issues such as the three major special investigations and the establishment of a rebellion trial court. We have achieved significant results, including the abolition of the prosecution office and the establishment of a public prosecution and serious crime investigation agency, along with the complete abolition of supplementary investigation rights."
Having gained momentum with a decisive win in Ho-nam, Kim expressed his determination to reclaim the Seoul mayoral position. He stated, "Regaining the Seoul mayoralty is essential for the stability of the Lee Jae-myung administration and for winning the upcoming general election." He announced plans to establish a Seoul policy committee to discuss pledges and hold forums with citizens on various issues, including jobs, welfare, and housing.
Meanwhile, Song highlighted the importance of securing support from the younger generation, stating that without their backing, victory in the 2030 presidential election would be unattainable. He proposed initiatives for youth, noting, "Currently, the Youth and Student Committee has an annual budget of 1.5 billion won. We will significantly increase this budget to encourage young people to gather in the Democratic Party and pursue their dreams and futures through housing policies and various support measures."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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