Lee Leads Combined Vote in 5 Regions for Party Leader Election
Kim Du-gwan Gains 7.19%, Kim Ji-su 1.11%, Showing Weakness
Five Supreme Council Candidates Mention "President Lee Jae-myung"
Lee Jae-myung, the candidate for the Democratic Party of Korea (Deobureo Minjudang) representative, secured over 90% of the votes from party members in Gangwon and Daegu·Gyeongbuk during the second day of the National Party Members Convention (Jeondangdaehoe), solidifying the trend of 'Eodaemyeong' (Anyway, the representative is Lee Jae-myung). Among the eight candidates for the Supreme Council, candidate Jeong Bong-ju is leading with a cumulative vote share of 21.67%, holding the sole first place.
On the 21st, the Democratic Party held joint rallies in Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Province, and Buk-gu, Daegu, respectively, and announced the results of the two-day online voting conducted among party members in Gangwon, Daegu, and Gyeongbuk regions. In Daegu, where the largest vote margin was recorded, candidate Lee received 94.73%, second-place candidate Kim Du-kwan 4.51%, and third-place candidate Kim Ji-su 0.76%, trailing far behind Lee. Voter turnout was also highest in Daegu, with 5,809 out of 11,123 eligible party members (52.23%) participating.
Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea's presidential candidate, clenches his fist at the joint speech meeting for the party leader and supreme councilor candidates held on the 21st at EXCO in Buk-gu, Daegu. [Image source=Yonhap News]
There was no change in the trend in Gyeongsangbuk-do and Gangwon-do either. Out of 12,149 total eligible voters, 5,807 (47.80%) voted, with candidate Lee receiving 93.97%, Kim Du-kwan 5.20%, and Kim Ji-su 0.83%. In Gangwon Province, 5,911 out of 27,049 eligible voters (21.85%) participated. Candidate Lee obtained 5,321 votes (90.02%), Kim Du-kwan 526 votes (8.90%), and Kim Ji-su 64 votes (1.08%).
The cumulative vote share combining Jeju and Incheon regions so far stands at 91.70% for candidate Lee, 7.19% for Kim Du-kwan, and 1.11% for Kim Ji-su.
The regional primaries, held a total of 15 times, will conclude on July 17 in Seoul. The following day, August 18, at the National Party Convention, the party will elect one party representative and five Supreme Council members by combining nationwide party member ARS voting, delegate online voting, and general public opinion polls. The weighting is 56% for party members, 14% for delegates, and 30% for general public opinion polls.
Lee Jae-myung: "I feel gratitude and responsibility at the same time"
After the conclusion of the Daegu·Gyeongbuk regional primary, candidate Lee told reporters, "I feel grateful and at the same time happy and responsible for the overwhelming support received in difficult regions." Regarding the criticism from the People Power Party comparing his over 90% support rate to North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un, he dismissed it by saying, "Isn't that just because they are jealous?"
Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea's presidential candidate, is presenting his policy speech at the joint speech meeting for party leader and supreme councilor candidates held on the 21st at EXCO in Buk-gu, Daegu. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Candidate Lee emphasized the expansion of renewable energy in both Gangwon and Daegu·Gyeongbuk regions on the day. In Hongcheon, he said, "If we develop wind power in every valley of Gangwon Province and solar power on abandoned fields and mountain ridges, a world where everyone can make a living from 'wind pensions' and 'sunshine pensions' will come." In Daegu, he stated, "By laying down an energy highway, we can immediately open a world where anyone can make a living through wind and solar power generation."
He also highlighted his local ties during the Daegu joint rally. At the start of his speech, he said, "I am Lee Jae-myung, a son of Gyeongbuk," and mentioned, "I was born in Yean-myeon, Andong-si, Gyeongbuk, and my father and mother rest in Myeongho-myeon, Bonghwa-gun." He continued, "My grandfather is buried in Yeongyang-gun, the neighboring mountain, and my grandmother is buried in Andong-si."
Kim Du-kwan: "Will Lee Jae-myung's personal factionalism lead to failure in regime change?"
Kim Du-kwan, the Democratic Party of Korea's presidential candidate, is presenting his policy platform at the joint speech meeting for party leader and supreme councilor candidates held on the 21st at EXCO in Buk-gu, Daegu. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Candidate Kim sharply criticized candidate Lee by mentioning 'Lee Jae-myung's personal factionalism.' After the Daegu·Gyeongbuk regional primary, he said, "This National Party Convention is a battle between creating a 'Lee Jae-myung personal faction' that will fail regime change or preserving the Democratic Party's diversity and dynamism to succeed in regime change." He added, "I will lead the Democratic Party's diversity to push for the resignation of the Yoon Seok-youl administration and regime change."
Kim continued with remarks to check candidate Lee. In the morning in Hongcheon, he said, "What will happen if the Democratic Party's diversity and dynamism disappear under a monarchic party leader?" and "If the leader is re-elected, the fierce confrontation with the evil government and ruling party will continue endlessly." In Daegu, he noted, "A recent poll showed the Democratic Party's support at 27% and the People Power Party at 35%," adding, "We need to deeply reflect on why the People Power Party receives more support than the Democratic Party despite fighting like gangsters."
Kim Ji-su: "I will deliver messages without being swayed by ups and downs"
After the Daegu·Gyeongbuk regional primary, candidate Kim Ji-su told Asia Economy in a phone interview, "Based on direct communication with youth in each region, I will deliver messages as the situation arises." He added, "I felt that the seniors today were amazing. I will not be swayed by ups and downs but will raise issues." He emphasized 'peace' in Hongcheon and 'future spirit' in Daegu.
While presenting his platform in Daegu, candidate Kim said, "The strong determination to firmly root the Democratic Party in the heart of conservatism will become the Democratic Party's 'future spirit,'" and "Isn't the sacrifice of the common people who saved the country from crisis the true pride of the citizens of Daegu and Gyeongbuk?"
Kim Ji-su, the Democratic Party of Korea's presidential candidate, is delivering a policy speech at the joint rally held at Hongcheon Sports Complex in Hongcheon County, Gangwon Province, on the morning of the 21st. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Jeong Bong-ju maintains first place among Supreme Council candidates on second day
Among the eight candidates competing for the Supreme Council, the combined results from Jeju, Incheon, Gangwon, Daegu, and Gyeongbuk primaries show candidate Jeong Bong-ju leading with 21.67% of the votes. He is followed by Kim Byung-ju (16.17%), Jeon Hyun-hee (13.76%), Kim Min-seok (12.59%), Lee Eon-ju (12.29%), Han Jun-ho (10.41%), Kang Seon-woo (6.99%), and Min Hyung-bae (6.13%). There were no changes in rankings compared to the previous day's cumulative results. Only the top five candidates by combined vote share will be elected as Supreme Council members.
Former lawmaker Jeong Bong-ju, who ran as a Supreme Council member candidate at the August 18 Democratic Party of Korea National Party Members' Convention. / Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@
On the day, the five Supreme Council candidates expressed support for "President Lee Jae-myung." Candidate Lee Eon-ju said, "If Lee Jae-myung becomes president, we will immediately become the ruling party here." Candidate Kim Min-seok stated, "We are forming a pre-governing leadership team. From here, we will prepare a ready president and open the Lee Jae-myung era." Candidate Jeon Hyun-hee said, "I want to make Lee Jae-myung president," and raised her voice, "Three years is too long. President Yoon Seok-youl must be impeached." Candidates Kang Seon-woo and Min Hyung-bae also mentioned, "We want Lee Jae-myung, a president from Gyeongbuk."
Gangwon Provincial Party Chair 'Kim Do-gyun', Daegu City Party Chair 'Heo So', Gyeongbuk Provincial Party Chair 'Lee Young-soo'
On the same day, city and provincial party chairs were also elected in the three regions. The Democratic Party Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Party elected Kim Do-gyun, the regional chair for Sokcho·Inje·Goseong·Yangyang, as the new provincial party chair. Kim, who ran unopposed, received 91.48% approval.
The Democratic Party Daegu City Party and Gyeongbuk Provincial Party held regular party member meetings at EXCO in Buk-gu, Daegu, electing candidate Heo So (with 60.34% vote share) as Daegu City Party Chair and candidate Lee Young-soo (with 52.60% vote share) as Gyeongbuk Provincial Party Chair. Candidate Heo competed against Park Hyung-ryong and Seo Jae-heon, while candidate Lee contended with Kim Wi-han, Yang Jae-young, Lee Jeong-hoon, and Jeong Yong-chae.
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