Strengthening Integration with the Appointment of Conservative Strategist Yoon Yeo Joon
Party Leadership and Primary Campaign Figures Expected to Take Key Roles
Policy Headquarters Likely to Operate Under a Co-Head System
With just one day left until the launch of the Democratic Party's Central Election Committee for the 21st presidential election, attention is focused on the outcome of the committee's formation. The appointment of former Environment Minister Yoon Yeo Joon, known as a leading political strategist in the conservative camp, as the standing co-chairman of the election committee is being interpreted as a signal. There is speculation that additional figures from the conservative side may join, and there is also interest in whether former presidential rivals and non-Lee Jae Myung (anti-Lee) figures will participate in the election committee.
Lee Jae Myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, is shouting fighting with the Supreme Council members wearing an election jumper at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 28th. 2025.4.28 Photo by Kim Hyun Min
Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae Myung and the party will hold the launch ceremony for the central election committee for the presidential election on April 30 at the main conference hall of the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul. Former Minister Yoon, who was brought in as the standing election committee chairman, served as Environment Minister in the Kim Young Sam administration. He is considered one of the top election strategists in the political sphere. Kwon O Eul, a former lawmaker from the Grand National Party, is also expected to indicate his possible participation in the unified election committee by holding a press conference in support of Lee on April 29.
The party leadership is also expected to be placed in key positions. Park Chan Dae, the acting party leader, is reportedly set to serve as an ex officio standing election committee chairman. Cho Seung Rae, the chief spokesperson, is being mentioned as a possible head of public relations. Other key roles are expected to be filled by Supreme Council member Kim Min Seok, Strategic Planning Committee Chairman Chun Jun Ho, and Secretary-General Kim Yoon Deok. Lawmakers Yoon Ho Jung and Kang Hoon Sik, who were part of Lee Jae Myung's primary campaign, are also said to be taking on important responsibilities.
It is highly likely that the policy headquarters will be operated under a co-head system. Names being mentioned include Jin Sung Joon, chair of the policy committee; Yoon Hu Deok, who served as policy headquarters chief during the primary campaign; and Lee Han Joo, president of the Democratic Research Institute and former head of the Gyeonggi Research Institute. If the election committee emphasizes "integration" through its appointments, it is expected that the policy headquarters will focus on presenting policy pledges centered on "growth."
Kim Kyung Soo, former governor of South Gyeongsang Province and a former presidential rival, is reportedly set to take on a major role in the election committee, based on Lee Jae Myung's intention to show political respect. There is also interest in whether Kim Boo Kyum, former prime minister and a symbolic figure in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk (TK) region, as well as Park Yong Jin, a former lawmaker and a representative figure of the progressive bloc and a former party leadership contender, will play roles in the central party election committee. Kim Dong Yeon, governor of Gyeonggi Province, is unlikely to participate directly in the central party election committee due to his current position as a metropolitan government head.
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