Democratic Party holds key regional primaries amid tight leadership race

South Korea's Democratic Party is set to hold a crucial regional primary election today in Gangwon and Daegu-Gyeongbuk, a key event in its race to elect the next party leadership.

The ongoing contest has seen a tight race between leading candidates. As of the latest tallies, Kim Min-seok holds a narrow lead with 45.41% of the cumulative vote, representing 77,351.8 votes. He is closely followed by Jung Cheong-rae, who has garnered 44.57%, equivalent to 75,919.5 votes.

All eyes are on the upcoming results, expected around 7 p.m. today. The party faithful and observers are keen to see whether Kim Min-seok can maintain his momentum following recent victories in Jeju and Incheon, or if Jung Cheong-rae will seize this opportunity to overturn the current standings and secure a comeback.

The outcome of these regional contests will significantly shape the trajectory of the Democratic Party as it prepares for future political challenges.