Key facts
- Kim Min-seok won primaries in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province.
- Kim leads the Democratic Party leadership race with 49.91% of votes released so far.
- Jung Chung-rae is in second place with 41.51% of votes.
- Song Young-gil is in third place with 8.58% of votes.
- The new leader will guide the party into the 2028 parliamentary elections.
The ruling Democratic Party (DP) is poised to elect a new leader at its national convention, a decision that could influence its relationship with President Lee Jae Myung and its strategy for the 2028 parliamentary elections.
Former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok has emerged as the frontrunner, securing 49.91 percent of the votes in the regional primaries held in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. His main rival, Rep. Jung Chung-rae, who is seeking a second consecutive term as DP leader, garnered 41.51 percent. Former DP leader Song Young-gil trailed significantly with 8.58 percent.
The released results are based solely on votes from dues-paying party members eligible for party elections. The final outcome, to be announced at the national convention, will also incorporate votes from party delegates and the general public. Under a new one-person, one-vote system, delegate and member votes will constitute 70 percent of the final result, with public votes making up the remaining 30 percent.
The incoming DP leader will be responsible for guiding the party into the 2028 parliamentary elections, holding significant sway over candidate nominations and playing a crucial role in advancing President Lee's legislative agenda. The DP currently controls 161 of the 299 seats in the National Assembly, enabling it to pass ordinary legislation independently. The results of the 2028 elections are expected to impact President Lee's legislative momentum during the final two years of his term, which concludes in 2030.