Lee Jae Myung Selected as Democratic Party Presidential Candidate with Record-High 89.77% Vote

The Democratic Party of Korea officially selected former leader Lee Jae Myung as its presidential candidate on April 27.

Lee Jae Myung, the Democratic Party presidential primary candidate, raises his hand to greet at the joint speech event for the Seoul metropolitan area, Gangwon, and Jeju held at Kintex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province on April 27, 2025. Photo by Kang Jin Hyung

On this day, at the Seoul metropolitan area, Gangwon, and Jeju primary and final candidate selection event held at Kintex in Ilsan, Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Lee recorded a final vote share of 89.77%. This is the highest vote share ever recorded in a Democratic Party-affiliated presidential primary since democratization in 1987. Kim Dong Yeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, received a combined total of 6.87%, while former South Gyeongsang Governor Kim Kyung Soo garnered 3.36%.

When combining the results of the first through fourth regional primaries, Lee’s total vote share among all delegates, party members with voting rights, and overseas Koreans was 90.40%. In a public opinion poll of the general population, he received 89.21%.

Lee stated, "The people and party members have given me the opportunity to create a new nation and a true Republic of Korea by regaining power," adding, "I will repay you by building a completely new country, a true Republic of Korea overflowing with hope and passion."