The Democratic Party of Korea's Aug. 17 national convention has two tour primaries left. The battleground is Honam and Seoul-Gyeonggi, where about 70% of the party's dues-paying members are concentrated. Candidates Kim Min-seok, Jung Chung-rae and Song Young-gil ramped up their "Honam outreach" in the Democratic Party's stronghold, where the primary will be held first.
According to political circles on the 10th, candidates Jung Chung-rae and Song Young-gil both visited Honam that day. Candidate Kim Min-seok fulfilled his schedule in Seoul but appealed to dues-paying members for support by announcing pledges for Honam.
In the morning, candidate Kim held a press conference at the National Assembly communication center and again emphasized the "three mega projects." Kim said, "We will make the success of the 'three mega projects for Honam'—in which semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI) spread from Honam to Chungcheong, Yeongnam and nationwide—the Democratic Party's No. 1 task," adding, "We will accelerate and expand the Hyundai Motor investment in Saemangeum, which departed during my time as prime minister, and take responsibility for attracting follow-up mega investments in North Jeolla."
Candidate Jung also promised solid support for Honam. At a press briefing held in North Jeolla that day, Jung said, "Hyundai Motor is trying to build an AI data center and more, and North Jeolla is paying great attention to creating an AI ecosystem," adding, "We will swiftly pass 10 new and revised laws within this year so that projects can start as early as next year."
Candidate Song visited the Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant in Yeonggwang, Gwangju, South Jeolla, to examine local pending issues. Appearing on YouTuber Kim Ou-joon's channel that day, Song said he is "the only Honam native among the three candidates," adding, "I hope Honam people will overcome a sense of defeat and the notion that Honam is not viable and provide support that can serve at least as a political base for Song Young-gil."
The Democratic Party will hold online voting by dues-paying members in the Honam region on the 11th to 14th and in Seoul-Gyeonggi on the 12th to 15th. Among all dues-paying members, Honam accounts for 32.9%, and Seoul-Gyeonggi accounts for 38.3%. The number of dues-paying members in these regions reaches 1.1 million. If the "trend" is confirmed in Honam, where the primary is held first, it is highly likely to affect the Seoul-Gyeonggi primary as well.
The Democratic Party's leadership race is currently a two-way contest between candidates Kim and Jung. After Kim beat Jung in Gangwon, Daegu and North Gyeongsang the previous day, Kim is ahead in the overall cumulative vote share. Kim's unweighted vote share, excluding strategic-region weightings, is 46.01%, which is 1.48 percentage points higher than Jung's 44.53%. However, with the race in a razor-thin margin of about 1 percentage point, both candidates are keeping up the tension.
At 9 p.m. on KBC Gwangju Broadcasting's televised debate, the Democratic Party leadership candidates will appeal for support to Honam dues-paying members. Fierce clashes are expected over development plans for Honam, including creating a semiconductor cluster in the southwest region.
The leadership election will be conducted with 70% from delegates and dues-paying members and 30% from a public opinion poll. In addition to the dues-paying member vote, the delegate vote will be held on the 17th, and the public opinion poll will be conducted on the 14th to 15th. The Democratic Party will announce the final winner at the national convention at the Daejeon Convention Center on the 17th.