Democratic Party primaries: Kim Min-seok leads Jeong Cheong-rae by razor-thin margin

The Democratic Party of Korea is set to continue its race for a new leader with simultaneous primaries in Gangwon and Daegu-Gyeongbuk (TK) on August 9. The competition remains intensely close, with a mere 0.84% point difference separating the top two candidates, Kim Min-seok and Jeong Cheong-rae, in the cumulative vote count.

Both candidates are vying for the top position, with Kim Min-seok currently leading and Jeong Cheong-rae aiming for a comeback. The party will hold joint rallies for its leadership candidates in Gangwon and TK, with results expected around 7 p.m. The Democratic Party designates TK as a 'strategic region' where its support is weaker, offering a 5% vote bonus for candidates in this area. Gangwon and TK members constitute approximately 3% and 2% of the total party membership, respectively.

So far, Kim Min-seok has won in Chungnam, Chungbuk, Ulsan, Jeju, and Incheon, while Jeong Cheong-rae led in Daejeon, Sejong, Busan, and Gyeongnam. The current cumulative tally shows Kim Min-seok with 77,351.8 votes (45.41%) and Jeong Cheong-rae with 75,919.5 votes (44.57%). Song Young-gil trails with 17,078.4 votes (10.03%).

Analysts suggest the ultimate winner will likely be determined by the primaries in Homan and Gyeonggi-Seoul on August 15 and 16, respectively. These regions account for about 70% of the party's membership, making them the most crucial battlegrounds for the party leadership. In this national convention, where the one-person-one-vote system is applied for the first time, the party leader election weighting is 70% for delegates and party members, and 30% for the public. Only the results of the party member votes in the regional primaries are disclosed.

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The race for party leader is extremely close between Kim Min-seok and Jeong Cheong-rae, with only a 0.84% point difference in cumulative votes.