"I Will Cut Out the Myeongpali" Jeong Bong-ju's 'Bombshell Statement' After [AK Radio]

Candidate Lee Jae-myung Anticipates '90% Vote Share'
Supreme Council Election Engulfed in 'Jung Bong-ju Controversy'
Lee Jae-myung Camp Keenly Watches Public Sentiment Ahead

The Democratic Party of Korea's leadership election, which will select the party leader and five supreme council members, is entering its final stage with fierce competition ongoing. On the 17th, the last regional primary will be held in Seoul, and on the 18th, the final selection of one party leader and five supreme council members will take place at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena. While candidate Lee Jae-myung has effectively secured his victory in the party leader election, the supreme council member election has become chaotic due to various controversies following candidate Jeong Bong-ju's press conference.

Candidate Lee Jae-myung Approaches 90% Vote Share... Solidifying 'Eodaemyeong'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In the party leader election, candidate Lee Jae-myung is enjoying overwhelming support and holds an absolute advantage. According to the accumulated online party member voting results so far, Lee Jae-myung has recorded a high vote share of 89.1%, raising interest in the possibility of him winning with nearly 90% of the votes. Lee Jae-myung's strong support base consists of party members, who account for 56% of the total vote share and are driving up his vote percentage.

Representatives from Lee Jae-myung's campaign stated regarding media interest in the 90% vote share, "We do not place much significance on it," adding, "Whether it exceeds 90% or not, the media will react accordingly, but we do not pay much attention to that." However, since the delegate vote (14%) and opinion polls (30%) may show relatively lower support for Lee Jae-myung, there are forecasts that achieving a 90% vote share might not be easy.

In this leadership election, candidate Lee Jae-myung has adopted 'Meoksanism,' showing a partial reversal on issues such as the financial investment income tax and comprehensive real estate tax. This indicates that Lee Jae-myung is attempting to expand his support base by targeting moderate voters through policy changes, solidifying his foundation within the party while seeking to broaden his appeal.

This phenomenon has drawn various evaluations within the Democratic Party. On one hand, it can be seen as full support from party members for Lee Jae-myung, reflecting a positive assessment that the Democratic Party is strengthening its foundation for regaining power. On the other hand, some view the nearly 90% vote share as an unusual occurrence for a democratic party. Concerns have been raised that the party members' excessive concentration of support on Lee Jae-myung could undermine the party's pluralism.

Supreme Council Member Election Intensifies Amid Jeong Bong-ju Controversy: "I Will Cut Off the 'Myeongpal'"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Unlike the party leader election, the supreme council member election is witnessing fierce competition. Especially after candidate Jeong Bong-ju's press conference, the election has intensified amid unexpected controversies. Initially, Jeong Bong-ju led the race, but as Lee Jae-myung appeared to directly or indirectly support candidate Kim Min-seok, the election dynamics shifted.

Candidate Kim Min-seok recently took first place with a cumulative vote share of 17.98%, surpassing Jeong Bong-ju, who fell to second place with 16.7%. Other candidates include Kim Byung-ju with 13.9%, Han Jun-ho with 13.7%, Lee Eon-ju with 11.5%, Jeon Hyun-hee with 11.5%, Min Hyung-bae with 11.7%, and Kang Seon-woo with 5%, showing a close and fluctuating contest for third to fifth places.

Jeong Bong-ju sparked controversy with a strong statement at a recent press conference, saying, "I will cut off the 'Myeongpal'." While expressing support for Lee Jae-myung, he criticized those who seek political gain by exploiting Lee Jae-myung's name. This remark provoked strong backlash within the pro-Lee (pro-Lee Jae-myung) faction and raised concerns that Jeong Bong-ju might lose his support base.

There are various interpretations regarding the background of Jeong Bong-ju's remarks. Some analysts suggest that Jeong made these comments to appeal to the anti-Lee faction, while others argue that the remarks targeted the hardline group within the Democratic Party known as the 'The Minjoo Innovation Council.' Additionally, some interpret the comments as aimed at the pro-Moon (pro-Moon Jae-in) faction or lawmakers who have recently distanced themselves somewhat from Lee Jae-myung.

Opinions are divided on whether Jeong Bong-ju's remarks will be advantageous or detrimental in the election. It appears likely that Jeong will lose support from the pro-Lee faction due to these comments. Some Democratic Party members have begun to criticize Jeong, with evaluations suggesting he has been 'placed on the cross.' In contrast, candidates Kim Min-seok and Kim Byung-ju have refrained from commenting on Jeong's remarks, seemingly aiming to avoid escalating the issue.

Lee Jae-myung Campaign: "Jeong Bong-ju Controversy Not Highly Significant"… Monitoring Public Sentiment Closely

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee Jae-myung's camp has shown little reaction to Jeong Bong-ju's press conference content. Representatives from Lee's campaign view the incident as an overheating phenomenon near the end of the leadership election and stated that they do not place much significance on it. Overall, Lee Jae-myung's camp appears to be refraining from responding to controversies related to the supreme council member election and is focusing on the election itself.

With Lee Jae-myung's victory in the party leader election almost certain, attention is focused on the supreme council member election results and the subsequent power structure within the party. The reinstatement of former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo may accelerate power realignment within the party, and the various variables emerging from the supreme council member election are attracting interest regarding their impact on the Democratic Party's policy direction and internal conflicts.

Through this leadership election, the Democratic Party will form a new leadership team, with Lee Jae-myung expected to secure the party leader position with an overwhelming vote share. However, as controversies and competition continue in the supreme council member election, interest in the Democratic Party's future course remains high. In particular, analysis of how the supreme council member election results will affect the party's power balance and how the party will adjust its strategy for regaining power will become increasingly important.

The Democratic Party's leadership election is scheduled to conclude on the 18th, officially launching the new leadership team alongside confirming Lee Jae-myung as party leader. This election will serve as a crucial turning point determining the future of the Democratic Party.

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