Lee Jae-myung Wins Decisively in Jeonbuk Primary... Cumulative 89% (Comprehensive)

Kim Du-kwan 9.6%·Kim Ji-su 1.4%

In the nationwide party member tour primary for the Democratic Party of Korea's next leadership election on August 18, candidate Lee Jae-myung is solidifying his dominant position. In the 10th Jeonbuk primary, Lee recorded a party member vote share of 84.7%, with a cumulative 89.0%.

On the afternoon of the 3rd, the Democratic Party held a joint speech event at the Wonkwang University Cultural and Sports Center in Iksan, Jeonbuk, to conduct the Jeonbuk regional primary. During the event, Lee emphasized the necessity of basic income. He stated, "Our society is now entering the era of 'super-science and technology,'" adding, "Our future should be a society that guarantees the basic lives of citizens through tremendous productivity." He further said, "We need to prepare a 'basic society' by providing basic income through local currency, with relatively higher amounts given the farther one is from Seoul."

After the joint speech event, Lee also took a stance against the current government during a meeting with reporters. Regarding the impeachment motion against Broadcasting and Communications Commission Chairperson Lee Jin-sook, he remarked, "The public has already judged whether Chairperson Lee is fit for the position."

Democratic Party of Korea representatives Kim Ji-su (from left), Kim Du-kwan, and Lee Jae-myung, candidates for party leader. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Kim Doo-kwan, currently in second place with a cumulative 9.6%, argued at the joint speech event that "the Democratic Party's diversity, dynamism, and democracy must be preserved to win the next presidential election." He added, "If I become the leader, I will ensure that many candidates, including Lee Jae-myung, Kim Boo-kyum (former Prime Minister), Kim Kyung-soo (former Governor of Gyeongnam), Kim Dong-yeon (Governor of Gyeonggi), and Lee Tan-hee (former lawmaker), can compete in good faith." Furthermore, he said, "What meaning is there in winning a battle but losing the war?" and pledged, "I will make our party a festival ground to reclaim power."

Candidate Kim Ji-soo addressed the low birthrate issue. He proposed, "Let's implement automatic parental leave," explaining, "Parental leave should be automatically activated the moment every citizen gives birth, and substitute workers should be introduced in industries." Kim also stated, "Let's achieve equal childcare rights and create equal educational opportunities."

Lee has recorded a cumulative vote share of 90.41% in the first to ninth regional primaries (Jeju, Incheon, Gangwon, Daegu·Gyeongbuk, Ulsan, Busan, Gyeongnam, Chungnam, Chungbuk) out of a total of 15, and by winning decisively in the 10th Jeonbuk primary, he appears to have solidified his dominant position. In the Jeonbuk primary, Kim Doo-kwan received 13.32%, and Kim Ji-soo received 1.89% of the votes.

The Democratic Party's Honam tour primaries will conclude the next day, on the 4th, with the Gwangju·Jeonnam primary. The remaining schedule includes Gyeonggi (10th), Daejeon·Sejong (11th), and Seoul (17th) primaries. Subsequently, the Democratic Party will elect one leader and five supreme council members at the party convention on the 18th. The results will reflect 56% party members, 14% delegates, and 30% general public opinion polls respectively.