Democratic Party of Korea party leader candidates Kim Min-seok, Jung Chung-rae, and Song Young-gil (in that speaking order) appealed for support at a joint rally in Gyeonggi Province on the 16th, stressing local economic development and more.
Candidate Kim Min-seok pledged to resolve local issues in Gyeonggi Province, including semiconductors. He also vowed to share the burden of Gyeonggi's fiscal pressures. Candidate Jung Chung-rae emphasized that he would prepare supply measures to stabilize the real estate market in the Seoul metropolitan area. Candidate Song highlighted the characteristics of Gyeonggi as a border region and stressed peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Kim said Gyeonggi's three tasks are "leading the future and the world with semiconductors, leading reforms in Korea and the world with reform policies such as basic income and local currency, and leading the normalization of the northern Gyeonggi border area." He also said, "If I become party leader, I will give full support to Gyeonggi Province and Governor Choo Mi-ae on these tasks."
Kim said, "If I become party leader, I will also share the hardship of Gyeonggi Province's fiscal pressure," adding, "We will improve the skewed system in which Gyeonggi builds the infrastructure but only certain cities and counties take the revenue."
On the three mega projects underway in the Honam region, he said, "At first it may look like it is saving the provinces rather than the capital area, but in the end it will also save Gyeonggi, which began with semiconductors," adding, "I will make sure the semiconductor locomotive of Gyeonggi, which is already running, does not slow down." He went on, "Kim Min-seok and a new Democratic Party will usher in an era that normalizes the abnormalities of the northern Gyeonggi border area," and emphasized, "We will stake the fate of the party and the government to overcome this and open the 'K-golden era.'"
Candidate Jung Chung-rae first addressed his loss to Kim by a large margin in the Honam region the previous day, saying, "A farmer does not blame the field," and, "I will walk steadily, weaving the comrades' tears into straw shoes."
Jung went on to say, "When we united, we won, and when we split, we lost," adding, "Reform is the Democratic Party's identity; when we reformed, we won, and when we failed at reform, we were shunned." He also said, "To stabilize the real estate market in the Seoul metropolitan area, we will urgently prepare supply measures and normalize LH first," and promised, "We will ensure the Honam-region semiconductor cluster succeeds through drive, breakthrough power, and a race against time."
Candidate Song, highlighting Gyeonggi's characteristics as a border region, said he would work for peace in inter-Korean relations. Song said, "No matter how much we achieve economic development and make an AI powerhouse, what would happen if inter-Korean relations are shaken?" and added, "With a burning passion to overcome the division of the nation, Song Young-gil will, together with President Lee Jae-myung, accomplish the role that Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, and Moon Jae-in could not fully achieve."
He added, "I will make the North Korea–U.S. summit a success and become the vanguard in changing the Korean Peninsula's Cold War problem," and appealed, "With burning passion and determination, I ask for a vote for HBM Song Young-gil, who will go with President Lee Jae-myung to build a peace structure on the Korean Peninsula."
Supreme Council member candidates also continued factional jabs that day. Pro-Lee Jae-myung faction candidate Park Sun-won said, "Despite the undefeated streak of consecutive wins in the 2024 general election and the 2025 presidential election, the old leadership is making us precarious and anxious," and candidate Seo Mi-hwa said, "The Democratic Party leadership must be fast and competent enough to recognize what the government intends to do just by looking in its eyes."
By contrast, pro-Chung (pro-Jung Chung-rae) faction candidate Han Min-su targeted candidate Kim Min-seok and appealed, "Please judge those who advocate anti-Lee and divisionism, and Shincheonji."
Candidate Choi Min-hee said, "Jung Chung-rae, who took the lead more than anyone in making Lee Jae-myung president, was at some point branded as anti-Lee," adding, "Is this the duty of comrades in the same party?"