DPK leadership race intensifies after southeastern primary win

Former Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) chair Jung Chung‑rae secured a victory in the party’s southeastern primary, receiving 46.65% of the vote against rival Kim Min‑seok’s 43.85% in Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang Province. The win came a day after Jung’s narrow defeat to Kim in the central Chungcheong region, where Kim edged him by 303 votes.

The leadership contest now features three main candidates—Jung, former Prime Minister Kim Min‑seok and Rep. Song Young‑gil—who have exchanged accusations of ethics violations and factionalism. The race unfolds as the ruling party grapples with criticism over recent local‑election losses, including the Seoul mayoral race. The DPK will hold a national convention on Aug. 17 to elect its new leader, who will steer candidate nominations for the April 2028 parliamentary elections.