South Korean Democrats' leadership race heats up in Honam region

The race for the leadership of South Korea's Democratic Party is intensifying as candidates make a final push in the vital Honam region, a stronghold representing 33% of the party's eligible voters. Kim Min-seok and Jeong Cheong-rae, locked in a tight contest with a mere 1.48% point lead for Kim, are both focusing their efforts on securing victory in Honam, believing it will pave the way for success in the Seoul metropolitan area and ultimately clinch the party leadership.

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The sentiment on the ground in Gwangju is overwhelmingly Jeong Cheong-rae.

Jeong Cheong-rae has asserted strong support among grassroots members in Gwangju, a key city in Honam, claiming "the sentiment on the ground in Gwangju is overwhelmingly Jeong Cheong-rae." He also invoked historical parallels, suggesting that party members recall past betrayals, implying Kim Min-seok is not a suitable choice. Jeong emphasized his ability to drive forward major projects, particularly a 'mega-project' in Gwangju, highlighting the need for speed. He also confidently predicted that his election as party leader would boost President Yoon Suk-yeol's approval ratings by over 10 percentage points, framing it as a way to restore camaraderie among those who supported the president during difficult times.

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When you think about the betrayal of Roh Moo-hyun in 2002, Kim Min-seok is not the answer.

Kim Min-seok, conversely, is campaigning on a platform of stability and concrete plans for Honam's development, particularly focusing on 'mega-projects.' He warned that if these projects falter under new leadership, the region's future would be jeopardized. Kim has also directly attacked Jeong's leadership capabilities, citing past election defeats and questioning Jeong's ability to manage party-government relations effectively. Kim aims to secure over half the votes in Honam to build momentum for the metropolitan areas, stressing the importance of the upcoming party convention for the future of the Democratic Party, the current government, and the nation.

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The speed of the semiconductor cluster to be built at the Gwangju military airport is crucial. Who else but Jeong Cheong-rae can push for speed?

Meanwhile, Song Young-gil, another candidate, has sharpened his criticism of Jeong Cheong-rae, questioning his grasp of the current administration's national agenda. Song pointed out that Jeong was unaware of the total number of key national projects and failed to identify the top priority project during a recent televised debate. Song is also rallying his supporters in the Jeonnam and Gwangju areas, as voting for Honam party members continues until the 14th, followed by metropolitan area voting from August 12th to 15th.

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Kim Min-seok will create and achieve new and ambitious mega-plans for Jeonbuk, along with the three major mega-projects for Honam.