The Democratic Party of Korea's Aug. 17 national convention "leadership race" began in earnest on the 24th. Starting with the resignation of former leader Jung Chung-rae, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and former leader Song Young-gil are also expected to announce their bids soon. Candidates and noncandidates are emerging as well in the supreme council election, which will be held alongside the party leader vote.
◇ With Jung's resignation, the "leadership contest" kicks off… Kim and Song weigh the timing of their bids
Among the leadership contenders, former leader Jung Chung-rae was the first to signal an intent to run. At the supreme council meeting that morning, Jung announced he was stepping down as party leader and said, "I will do my best for the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration." Since the June 3 local elections, lawmakers aligned with Lee Jae-myung had called on him not to run in the convention, but he effectively made clear he would seek another term.
With Jung's abrupt resignation, attention is turning to when the other leadership contenders, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and former leader Song Young-gil, will declare. Kim is currently visiting China, and Song is in the United States on diplomatic schedules. All three leadership hopefuls have recently visited Honam, where many dues-paying members live, or have reorganized their operations, putting the finishing touches on their preparations to run.
Kim and Song are expected to declare their candidacies after returning home. Kim is likely to do so after the appointment process for his successor, Prime Minister-designate Han Seong-sook, is completed, and Song is expected to formalize his bid after visiting Roh Moo-hyun's gravesite in Bongha Village, Gimhae, South Gyeongsang, on the 30th.
◇ Park Sun-won makes first bid for supreme council… Kang Deuk-gu and Hwang Myung-seon "will not run"
The supreme council election, to be held alongside the party leader vote, also kicked off in earnest. Democratic Party lawmaker Park Sun-won held a press conference at the National Assembly press room and said, "I will become the supreme council member for all Democratic Party members," declaring a run. Park is the first to officially announce a bid in the Aug. 17 convention's supreme council race.
Democratic Party lawmakers Kang Deuk-gu and Hwang Myung-seon, seen as aligned with Lee Jae-myung, declared they would not run for the supreme council, raising the issue of responsibility for the local election losses by the "Jung Chung-rae leadership." The aim is to pressure Jung not to run by bowing out themselves. Kang said, "President Lee Jae-myung said the (local election results) were a warning from the public, but leader Jung Chung-rae says it was a victory," adding, "I will take responsibility for the results of these local elections and will not run in the next supreme council election."
In political circles, many are expected to vie for the Democratic Party's supreme council, setting up a fierce contest. Among those seen as aligned with Lee Jae-myung, lawmakers Park Sung-joon and Lee Geon-tae and former Democracy Research Institute deputy head Kim Yong are mentioned as potential candidates. In the pro-Jung Chung-rae camp, lawmakers Lee Sung-yoon, Choi Min-hee, and Han Min-soo are emerging as prospects. In addition, lawmakers Kim Young-ho, Noh Jong-myeon, and Min Byung-deok are also being mentioned.