Kim Min-seok, the former prime minister; lawmaker Song Young-gil; and former chair Jung Chung-rae, all seen as strong contenders for the party leadership at the Democratic Party of Korea convention on Aug. 17, officially registered as candidates on the morning of the 16th. The Democratic Party convention has entered a full-fledged phase of competition for party control.
As the party opened candidate registration for its convention on the morning of the day, candidates for party chair and supreme council began to register.
The former prime minister Kim had lawmaker Kim Won-i register on his behalf that morning, and former chair Jung also completed candidate registration through a representative. Lawmaker Song and lawmaker Ko Min-jung went in person to the party headquarters to complete the process. Former Gangjin County Council member Kim Bo-mi is also expected to register.
Right after filing to run, lawmaker Song emphasized that he is the person who understands President Lee Jae-myung the best. He said, "As the only person with experience as a metropolitan government head, I am the one who best understands President Lee Jae-myung's difficulties and will offer alternatives."
Lawmaker Ko said, "I will head to Honam as soon as this ends," adding, "In North Jeolla, South Jeolla, and Gwangju, I plan to meet many party members in person to hear what expectations they have for the Democratic Party."
For the supreme council election, lawmaker Park Sun-won registered first as a candidate that morning. Next, lawmakers Kim Young-ho, Park Sung-joon, Seo Mi-hwa, Lee Geon-tae, Lim Mi-ae, Choi Min-hee, and Han Min-soo, who have declared their bids, are expected to register in sequence. Among figures outside the National Assembly, registrations are also expected from Kim Yong, former deputy head of the Institute for Democracy; Kim Hyeong-nam, former secretary-general of the Center for Military Human Rights; and Jeong Min-cheol, vice chair of the Democratic Party policy committee.
Going forward, the Democratic Party will enter a full-fledged convention phase. TV debates for party chair candidates will be held three times on the 29th of this month and on the 5th and 12th of next month. The TV debate for supreme council candidates will be held once, on the 3rd of next month. The party will accept registrations for party chair and supreme council candidates from today through tomorrow.