Kim Min-seok has been elected as the new leader of the Democratic Party, gaining control over the party's nomination rights for the upcoming 2028 National Assembly elections. However, he faces the challenging task of unifying the pro-Lee Jae-myung and pro-Jeong Cheong-rae factions, as well as winning in the anticipated by-elections for the Seoul mayoral and Gangneung parliamentary seats next year.
The Democratic Party's Central Election Management Committee officially announced Kim's election during the third national party convention held at the Daejeon Convention Center on August 17. This convention marked a historic first for the party, implementing a one-person, one-vote system where the votes of delegates and party members held equal weight. The final results were determined by combining 70% of the votes from delegates and party members with 30% from public opinion polls. Following Kim, Jeong Cheong-rae secured second place, while Song Young-gil came in third.
With Kim, a former Prime Minister under the Lee Jae-myung administration, now at the helm, collaboration between the party and the government is expected to accelerate. The current administration has prioritized constitutional reform as its top agenda item and aims to achieve local-led growth through three major mega-projects. Given the previous tensions between Lee and Jeong, it remains to be seen how effectively Kim can advance the government's policy objectives.
In his acceptance speech, Kim stated, "We now have a dream of opening the golden age of Korea for the first time in our 5,000-year history. The Democratic Party, as the central locomotive, must not falter, or it will shake the presidency." He emphasized the urgency of the upcoming elections, saying, "This election is more critical than any other. I understand that the fate of our party, government, and nation is at stake, not just my personal victory."
He also remarked, "We have gathered here today to create the future through the history of the Democratic Party. Have we ever changed our support for the Democratic Party and the presidents we have produced? We are indeed the core of the Democratic Party," seemingly countering Jeong's assessment that declining support for President Lee is due to a loss of core supporters.
Kim reflected on his 36 years in the party, stating, "I have met and learned from all Democratic presidents. I have grown through 18 years in the opposition and have fulfilled every task entrusted to me by the party." He described his new role as a destiny shaped by the legacy of former President Kim Dae-jung, his ties to President Lee, and the challenges faced by former Presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in.
As a candidate, Kim pledged to pursue unity within the party. The convention highlighted escalating tensions between the pro-Lee and pro-Jeong factions, particularly over the failed election of a youth committee chair and opposition to the introduction of a preferential voting system.
In a campaign event the day before, he stated, "I will create a grand coalition through harmony, solidarity, recruitment, and expansion, building a structural majority to overcome the upcoming general and presidential elections." He emphasized his unique position as the only candidate who has led the party to victories in all previous elections, promoting the slogan "A Winning Democratic Party Again."
Additionally, he faces the task of winning the upcoming by-elections for the Seoul mayoral and Gangneung parliamentary seats. The Seoul mayoral election is particularly pressing, as incumbent Oh Se-hoon has been sentenced to a disqualification ruling due to allegations of survey manipulation, with a by-election potentially occurring as early as next April. Gangneung's seat was vacated following a disqualification ruling against former People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong over bribery allegations related to the Unification Church.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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