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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Korean opposition party gears up for leadership vote amid factional infighting

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • South Korea's Democratic Party is holding preliminary elections for its next leadership on August 20, with three candidates advancing to the main contest.
  • The race features a three-way competition between Kim Min-seok, Song Young-gil, and Chung Jin-suk, who are reportedly attacking each other's platforms and leadership styles.
  • The party is also electing supreme council members, with factions strategizing to secure a majority in the new leadership structure.

The Democratic Party of South Korea is gearing up for its national convention, with preliminary elections kicking off August 20 to select its next leader. The race has quickly become a battleground for prominent figures, with former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and lawmaker Song Young-gil reportedly forming an alliance to challenge incumbent leader Chung Jin-suk.

He is the party leader whose conflicts with the president have been reported in the media all year.

— Kim Min-seokKim Min-seok criticizing incumbent party leader Chung Jin-suk.

Kim has been vocal in his criticism, recently targeting Chung's leadership by stating, "He is the party leader whose conflicts with the president have been reported in the media all year." He further framed the election as a crucial choice between supporting President Lee Jae-myung's administration and "shaking" it, even referencing the Shincheonji religious group in a controversial remark.

The essence of this national convention is ultimately a disguised anti-Lee Jae-myung factionalism and a grand battle with Shincheonji. Is it the success of the Lee Jae-myung government and victory in the general election? Or is it shaking the Lee Jae-myung government and splitting the Democratic Party?

— Kim Min-seokKim Min-seok framing the national convention as a crucial choice for the party's direction.

Song has also joined the offensive, criticizing the previous leadership's "complacent view" of the June local election results. He specifically pointed to the delay in preparing a presidential aide, implying a lack of urgency under Chung's tenure. Meanwhile, Chung is adopting an "underdog" strategy, positioning himself as the weaker candidate against the combined force of Kim and Song, aiming to rally party members to his cause.

The president was very disappointed, but the previous leadership had a complacent view like 'We did well, we won, what's the problem?'

— Song Young-gilSong Young-gil criticizing the previous leadership's response to the local election results.

Other candidates, including Ko Min-jung and Kim Bo-mi, are emphasizing generational change within the party. The competition for supreme council seats is equally fierce, with factions maneuvering to secure key positions. Supporters of Chung are reportedly coordinating their votes to ensure his allies are elected, a strategy criticized by Kim's camp as an attempt to create a leadership dominated by a single faction.

I will protect the Democratic Party, so please protect Chung Jin-suk.

— Chung Jin-sukChung Jin-suk appealing to party members for support.
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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