"77.77% All-Time High Vote Share".. Lee Jae-myung Elected as New Democratic Party Leader (Comprehensive)

Supreme Council Members Elected: Jeong Cheong-rae, Go Min-jeong, Park Chan-dae, Seo Young-kyo, Jang Kyung-tae

Lee Jae-myung, the newly elected leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is greeting the elected Supreme Council members after being elected as the party leader at the 5th Regular National Delegate Conference held on the 28th at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena in Songpa-gu, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] On the 28th, Representative Lee Jae-myung was elected as the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. The newly appointed leader confirmed overwhelming support of 70-80% from both national delegates and public opinion polls, earning nicknames such as ‘Eodaemyeong’ (Anyway, the party leader is Lee Jae-myung) and ‘Hwadaemyeong’ (Definitely, the party leader is Lee Jae-myung).

On the same day, Lee won the final victory with 77.77% of the votes in the party leader election held at the Seoul Olympic Gymnastics Arena during the regular national delegates convention. Park Yong-jin, who competed against Lee until the end, received only 22.23% of the votes. Lee secured 72.03% of the national delegates’ votes, 78.22% of the party members with voting rights, 82.26% in public opinion polls, and 86.25% in general party member polls, leading significantly in both party and public support. Park, who lost in this election, confirmed support of 27.97% from national delegates, 21.78% from party members with voting rights, 17.75% in public opinion polls, and 13.76% in general party member polls.

With Kang Hoon-sik’s mid-race withdrawal, the election proceeded as a two-way race instead of a three-way contest, and Lee won in all regions of the nationwide party members with voting rights. Lee’s vote share set a record high for the Democratic Party. The previous highest record was 60.77%, set by former party leader Lee Nak-yeon at the 2020 party convention.

Lee expressed his thoughts, saying, "You have raised me again, who bears the greatest responsibility for the presidential election defeat," and added, "I consider this an order to devote myself to the people and the party."

For the Democratic Party’s Supreme Council members, Jeong Cheong-rae (by vote order), Go Min-jung, Park Chan-dae, Seo Young-kyo, and Jang Kyung-tae were elected. Among the five Supreme Council members, four are classified as pro-Lee factions. Although Song Gap-seok was expected to make a strong showing through candidate unification efforts, it was insufficient.