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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Democratic Party faces intense factional battles for supreme council seats

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Over a dozen politicians are vying for five spots on the Democratic Party's supreme council, intensifying factional competition ahead of the national convention.
  • Key factions are backing specific candidates, with alliances forming to secure a majority on the council, which will influence party operations.
  • Candidates are engaging in public disputes, criticizing rivals and their past actions as they campaign for the influential positions.

South Korea's Democratic Party is witnessing a fierce contest for its supreme council positions, with more than a dozen hopefuls emerging as the party's national convention approaches next month. The competition highlights distinct factional rivalries, as different political camps are mobilizing to secure a majority on the influential council.

Currently, ten candidates have either declared their intention to run or are strongly expected to compete for the five available seats. Supporters of former party leader Jeon Jung-bae are backing candidates like Choi Min-hee and Han Min-soo, while Lee Sung-yoon's candidacy is also confirmed. Candidates associated with Kim Min-seok, including Park Sung-joon, Seo Mi-hwa, and Lee Geon-tae, along with Kim Yong, former head of the Democratic Research Institute, have also announced their bids. Meanwhile, Song Young-gil's faction is represented by Kim Young-ho and Park Sun-won.

The term 'factional conflict' is a political maneuver to create a frame attacking him for doing his own politics.

— Han Min-sooA lawmaker criticized the narrative of factional conflict during the previous party leadership, suggesting it was politically motivated.

Adding to the mix are younger contenders like Jung Min-cheol, deputy head of the policy committee, and Kim Hyung-nam, former secretary-general of the Center for Military Human Rights. Im Mi-ae, a lawmaker with less pronounced factional ties, and Park Seung-won, the mayor of Gwangmyeong, are also in the running. The preliminary selection process on the 21st will narrow down the field to eight, with the final five to be chosen through a two-vote system in the main convention.

Why are you talking about the presidential election now?

— Park Sung-joonA candidate questioned another politician's premature discussion of presidential ambitions during the party's internal election campaign.

The outcome is crucial, as the faction that gains a majority on the supreme council will likely steer the party's future direction. This has spurred active alliance-building between party leaders and potential council members. For instance, Lee Geon-tae and Kim Yong have announced their candidacy together under the banner of "replacing the Jeon Jung-bae leadership."

Candidates have already begun engaging in proxy battles. Han Min-soo appeared on a radio show criticizing Jeon Jung-bae's past leadership, while Park Sung-joon questioned Jeon's timing in discussing presidential ambitions. Choi Min-hee, in turn, attacked Song Young-gil's recent remarks, calling them "grotesque."

Grotesque language.

— Choi Min-heeA candidate criticized the remarks made by another politician during the ongoing party election campaign.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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