8·28 Party Convention First Week of Regional Primaries Low Vote Share for Honam Representative Candidate Song Gap-seok
Absolute Vote Counts Show Little Difference... Possible Turnaround in Honam Regional Primaries Analyzed
[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] As the first week of the nationwide primary elections for the Democratic Party of Korea's August 28 leadership convention concluded, concerns are rising that Honam may once again be marginalized after candidate Song Gap-seok, the only non-metropolitan candidate running for Supreme Council member as the Honam representative, ranked last.
Locally, there are self-critical voices saying that the Democratic Party only visits Honam when necessary, claiming it as their "stronghold" and "political hometown," while in reality, Honam is being sidelined on the central stage.
According to the Democratic Party on the 8th, based on the results of the party members' votes in Jeju and Incheon held the previous day and the votes from Gangwon, Daegu, and Gyeongbuk on the 6th, candidate Song received a total of 3,742 votes, recording a cumulative vote share of 4.16%.
Candidate Jeong Cheong-rae ranked first with 38.40% (25,542 votes), Go Min-jung second with 22.24% (19,999 votes), Park Chan-dae third with 12.93% (11,627 votes), Jang Kyung-tae fourth with 10.92% (9,826 votes), Seo Young-kyo fifth with 8.97% (8,069 votes), Yoon Young-chan sixth with 7.71% (6,933 votes), and Go Young-in seventh with 4.67% (4,204 votes).
Although many primary election regions remain until the August 28 leadership convention, Song’s results have caused considerable shock locally.
Since the launch of the 21st National Assembly, Han Byung-do (Jeonbuk Iksan-eul) and Seo Sam-seok (Yeongam-Muan-Shinan) ran for Supreme Council member as Honam representatives but both failed to enter the leadership.
If Honam, the party’s largest support base, continues to be sidelined on the central stage, concerns are growing that the political legacy of Honam may be broken since former President Kim Dae-jung.
Therefore, there is a strong call for candidate Song to enter the newly formed Democratic Party leadership as the Honam representative.
Although Song currently ranks last, the fact that he garnered nearly 4,000 votes from regions where he has no local ties and where the party’s influence is relatively weak is analyzed as a meaningful achievement.
Moreover, if he performs overwhelmingly well in Honam, where the party’s party members are most concentrated, the absolute number of votes currently is not significantly different, so local political circles believe he has a good chance.
Citizen Jeong Mo said, "We need to create a great figure who can carry on Honam’s political legacy and represent Honam, the party’s stronghold," adding, "We must actively support candidate Song Gap-seok to build a party that represents Honam’s sentiment and, furthermore, conveys regional public opinion to the center, not just the central politics concentrated in the metropolitan area."
The Democratic Party plans to proceed with voting in the following order: Busan, Ulsan, Gyeongnam on the 13th; Chungnam, Chungbuk, Daejeon, Sejong (announcement of the first national public opinion poll results) on the 14th; Jeonbuk on the 20th; Gwangju, Jeonnam on the 21st; Seoul, Gyeonggi on the 27th; and the second national public opinion poll and nationwide delegates’ online voting on the 28th.
The final ranking will be determined by combining 40% party members’ votes, 30% delegates’ votes, 25% national public opinion polls, and 5% general party members’ opinion polls, with the top five becoming Supreme Council members and entering the leadership.
Meanwhile, candidate Song has declared himself as a "reliable candidate to protect the Democratic Party" and thrown his hat into the ring for the new leadership.
He said, "I have not engaged in politics that build factions or grow by confronting specific groups or individuals, and I have no intention to do so in the future," adding, "I will be a Supreme Council member who speaks out based on common sense and principles, looking only at public sentiment."
He also emphasized representing public sentiment nationwide to ensure that no one experiences exclusion, marginalization, or discrimination.
Candidate Song appealed for support, saying, "I will build a Democratic Party that prioritizes people’s livelihoods and does not back down against the Yoon Seok-yeol administration’s abuses," and "I will restore common sense and principles to create a Democratic Party loved by the people and present progressive values and visions suitable for the changing times."
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