Pro-Lee faction candidates withdraw from Democratic Party leadership race

Two prominent pro-Lee Jae-myung faction candidates, Kim Young-ho and Im Mi-ae, have withdrawn from the race for the Democratic Party's Supreme Council ahead of the August 17 national convention. Their decision aims to consolidate support for fellow pro-Lee candidate Kim Yong, who is currently trailing in the polls.

Kim Young-ho announced his withdrawal on Facebook, stating that the party's victory is paramount and that supporting Kim Yong is crucial for him to work effectively with President Lee Jae-myung. He expressed hope that his resignation would strengthen party unity and help regain public trust.

Im Mi-ae echoed similar sentiments, urging delegates to elect Kim Yong to the Supreme Council. She emphasized the importance of having a Supreme Council that can closely collaborate with the party leader, Kim Min-seok, and President Lee Jae-myung. Im also called for the election of Seo Mi-hwa and Park Sun-won to secure a balanced leadership.

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It is a time when a decision of 'serving the party first, then oneself' is needed, more than increasing my own vote count.

Currently, the top five candidates in the Supreme Council race, based on preliminary vote counts among party members, include Choi Min-hee, Park Sun-won, Seo Mi-hwa, Lee Sung-yoon, and Han Min-soo. The pro-Lee faction, which includes Choi, Lee, and Han, holds a majority among these top contenders. Kim Yong, another pro-Lee candidate, is in sixth place, narrowly behind Han Min-soo and Lee Sung-yoon.

The withdrawals are seen as a strategic move to ensure the pro-Lee faction secures a strong presence in the Supreme Council, crucial for supporting President Lee's agenda and maintaining party unity. The final election results will be determined by a combination of delegate votes and a national opinion poll.

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The election of Kim Min-seok as party leader seems certain. Therefore, the composition of the Supreme Council is important.