South Korea Democratic Party leadership race intensifies

Former Democratic Party leader Jeong Cheong‑rae and ex‑prime minister Kim Min‑sek attended a youth elected‑officials workshop at Gonjiam Resort in Gwangju on June 28, signaling intensified competition ahead of the party’s 2026 convention. Jeong visited the May‑18 Mother’s House in Gwangju, pledging to embed the spirit of the 5·18 democracy movement in the constitution and to shore up support in the Honam region where party sentiment has been wavering.

Kim launched a rapid regional tour, stopping at Cheongju’s traditional market, meeting vendors, and touring the SK Hynix semiconductor plant. He emphasised the administration’s three mega‑projects and posted on X, “Winning the general election, continuous rule is the most certain irreversible guarantee for prosecutorial reform.” His outreach is seen as an early bid for the party chairmanship, directly challenging Jeong’s position. The rivalry is further heated by other potential candidates such as Song Young‑gil, who is weighing a candidacy. Both leaders are courting youth and regional bases—Jeong in Honam, Kim in Chungcheong—while framing their visions for the party’s future.