Will the next primary be TK, with Lee Jae-myung continuing his 3 consecutive wins... The 1st Super Week seems to be a turning point

30% of Total Electorate Decides Vote
Significant Impact of Hyunam's Support After Holidays
Lee Jae-myung Determined to Secure Momentum
Lee Nak-yeon Urgently Needs Comeback Momentum

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Koo Chae-eun and Jeon Jin-young] As Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung secured a landslide victory in the Chungcheong region Democratic Party primary, the upcoming ‘1st Super Week’ from the 8th to the 12th is expected to be the biggest turning point in determining whether a runoff will be necessary. This is because it will decide the direction of about 30% (approximately 641,000 votes) of the total electorate of around 2.2 million, and it is also expected to have a significant impact on the voter sentiment in the Honam region, which will take place after the Chuseok holiday. The Lee Jae-myung camp plans to capitalize on the momentum of a majority landslide victory to firmly establish the trend early on the 12th. On the other hand, the Lee Nak-yeon camp is in an atmosphere where urgently revising their strategy to create a momentum for a comeback is necessary.

The Democratic Party presidential primary schedule is set to proceed with the Daegu-Gyeongbuk primary on the 11th and the announcement of the Gangwon and 1st Super Week results on the 12th, following the Chungcheong region primary held on the 4th and 5th. On the 6th, Lee showed confidence in the ‘dominant trend’ by heading to Gangwon Province, the fourth primary region, instead of the next primary region, Daegu-Gyeongbuk. At a Gangwon policy announcement press conference held in Wonju that morning, Lee said, "We will actively promote the enactment of the Gangwon Peace Special Autonomous Province Act so that Gangwon can grow into a leading region in the era of inter-Korean peace."

Following the defeat in the Chungcheong region, the camp of former representative Lee, where the two-strong structure and runoff strategy have been put on red alert, is entering a phase of strategic revision. The Daegu-Gyeongbuk regional policy announcement, which former representative Lee was originally scheduled to attend in person, was replaced with a press release, and a meeting with the Korean Medical Association was canceled. The former Lee camp plans to conduct a comprehensive review of their overall strategy, including the pro-Moon Jae-in and reformist messages they have put forward so far, as well as their negative attacks against Lee Jae-myung. Regarding the Daegu-Gyeongbuk regional policy, former representative Lee stated in a press release, "We will integrate Daegu and Gyeongbuk into a mega-city and make it the new manufacturing capital of South Korea."

Former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun announced the Daegu-Gyeongbuk policy remotely in the morning, and in the afternoon held meetings with supporters in Goryeong, Seongju, and Chilgok in Gyeongbuk, followed by a meeting with supporters in Dong-gu, Daegu. Former Prime Minister Chung secured 7.05% in the cumulative total of the Chungcheong region tour primary, narrowly holding third place by 92 votes over former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae. As the competition for third place is tight, with a margin within 100 votes, a fierce battle for third place is expected to continue in upcoming regional tour primaries. Former Minister Choo, who is from Daegu, plans to perform well in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk primary to narrow the gap with second place. Park Yong-jin (2.37%) and Representative Kim Du-kwan (0.87%), who ranked fifth and sixth respectively in the Chungcheong region primary, are scheduled to attend a party member meeting and a presidential candidate interview, respectively, on this day.