President Lee Jaemyung: "The Democratic Party is Strongest as One Team"
Democratic Party Holds One-Shot Leadership Election
New Party Leader to Be Confirmed at 5 p.m.
The Democratic Party of Korea, now the ruling party, is holding its National Convention to elect a new party leader. Attention is focused on who will ultimately win between Jeong Cheongrae, who led in the party member elections in the Yeongnam and Chungcheong regions, and Park Chandae, who is known to have strong support among delegates and others.
On the 2nd, a video congratulatory message from President Lee Jae Myung was played at the 2nd Emergency National Party Members' Convention of the Democratic Party of Korea held at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Kim Hyun Min
The convention, held on August 2 at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, will select one party leader and one Supreme Council member. This convention was convened after former Democratic Party leader and President Lee Jaemyung stepped down from the party leadership to run for president. The by-election for the Supreme Council is being held because former Supreme Council member Kim Minseok resigned after being nominated as Prime Minister.
Since this convention is being held as a by-election, the terms for the newly elected party leader and Supreme Council member will run until August next year.
The results of this convention will be determined by combining the votes of party members with voting rights (55%), delegates (15%), and a public opinion poll (30%). Initially, the Democratic Party planned to hold sequential elections for party members with voting rights in the Honam region and the Seoul metropolitan area, following those already held in the Chungcheong and Yeongnam regions. However, due to the impact of heavy rainfall, the results for the Honam and metropolitan regions will also be announced together in a single round of voting.
Previously, in the Chungcheong and Yeongnam regions, candidate Jeong received 62.77% and 62.55% of the votes, respectively, taking the lead. Candidate Park received 37.23% and 37.45% of the votes, respectively, trailing behind.
Kim Byungki, Acting President and Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, along with the leadership, is greeting party members at the 2nd Extraordinary National Party Members' Convention held on the 2nd at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
President Lee Jaemyung: "We must unite as one under the new leadership"
President Lee delivered a congratulatory message via video. Introducing himself as "a Democratic Party member and the President of the Republic of Korea," President Lee said, "About a year ago, I stood here together with my fellow comrades," and promised, "We will restore growth and build a nation of hope, a Republic of Korea that moves forward again, by uniting the strength of the people and party members. I trust that the Democratic Party will take the lead as one team in fulfilling the mission entrusted by the people and history." He continued, "As was proven in the last presidential election, our Democratic Party is strongest when we are united," adding, "We are all comrades sharing the same vision and heading in the same direction. Even if we have fiercely competed until now, from this moment on, let us unite under the new leadership and boldly advance toward a nation where the people are the true owners and where the people are happy."
Former President Moon Jaein also delivered a congratulatory message via video, stating, "The Democratic Party governments throughout history have demonstrated competence in every field," and "During the Democratic Party governments, the dignity and status of the Republic of Korea have reached unprecedented heights." Former President Moon said, "I hope the new leadership will join forces and wisdom with the Lee Jaemyung administration as partners in governance to ensure successful state administration."
Kim Byungki, acting Democratic Party leader and floor leader, said in his greeting, "The Lee Jaemyung administration and the Democratic Party are a community of shared destiny that realizes the sovereignty of the people," and pledged, "We will be reborn as a competent party that protects the lives of the people and as a responsible party ready to govern." He continued, "The new leadership to be elected today will open the path to integration and reform, recovery and growth, as a strong partner of the Lee Jaemyung administration."
The new Democratic Party leader is expected to be decided around 5 p.m.
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