South Korea Democratic Party leadership race sees shift in regional support

Kim Yong, a candidate for the Democratic Party’s Supreme Council, said recent sentiment in the Honam region has turned away from former leader Jeong Cheong‑rae, raising the prospect that party leader candidate Kim Min‑seok could secure a majority in the first round without a runoff. He praised Kim Min‑seok’s performance in the Chungcheong region and framed losses in Busan, Ulsan and Gyeongnam as a strategic victory, while criticizing the so‑called “Team Jeong Cheong‑rae” for employing undemocratic strategic voting.

Lee Seong‑yun, another Supreme Council hopeful, rejected the label of “anti‑Lee Jae‑myung” used against Kim Min‑seok, calling it divisive language that seeks to split the party and the president. He emphasized his background as a former prosecutor and pledged to see prosecution and court reforms through to completion.