Kim Min-seok, Jung Chung-rae and Song Young-gil, candidates running in the Democratic Party of Korea leadership election, delivered their final speeches at the Aug. 17 party convention. Kim Min-seok asked for a stable majority following his first-place finish in the voting by dues-paying members, while Jung Chung-rae cited past reform achievements and appealed for another term. Song Young-gil stressed that the leader of the ruling party must support the president.
Kim Min-seok, Jung Chung-rae and Song Young-gil gave their final speeches at the 3rd regular national party members' convention held on the afternoon of the 17th at the Daejeon Convention Center (DCC).
Kim said, "When have we ever changed our support for a president produced by the Democratic Party? The dues-paying members gathered here are the core base," adding, "Our dream today is to open the 'K-golden era' of the Republic of Korea for the first time in 5,000 years of history. I earnestly ask you to cast a weighty vote for a stable majority to steady the party, and a vote to give an elected party leader a bold chance to get things done."
He continued, "If I become party leader, the dual party membership issue raised this time, ghost members and involuntary members will be sorted out in due course," adding, "We will also address manipulative voting acts or groups, and, if necessary, introduce a special counsel investigation into Shincheonji and the Unification Church to cleanse the party."
Jung said, "The Democratic Party won when it pursued reform and did not succeed when it turned away from reform. Reform is the Democratic Party's identity, banner and symbol," adding, "We must once again raise high the banner of reform to win the general and presidential elections. Let's not shake the reform achievements we accomplished over the past year."
He went on, "Is there any anti-Myung (anti–Lee Jae-myung) here, any divisive figure, any Shincheonji? Then why say you (Jung Chung-rae) can't do it because you're anti-Myung, you can't do it because you're a divisive figure, you can't do it because you're Shincheonji," adding, "This convention says it's the 'Democratic Party for all,' so do we exclude Jung Chung-rae, exclude Choi Min-hee, and exclude Lee Sung-yoon and Han Min-soo? Are you saying that only if Kim Min-seok is elected will the Lee Jae-myung administration succeed?"
Song said, "The leader of the ruling party not only supports the president but also discusses national policy directions together and presents alternatives," adding, "With an evaluation of the local elections that runs counter to President Lee Jae-myung's view, how will you lead the next general election?"
He continued, "Now is the time to impeach Jo Hee-de. This is already late. Song Young-gil will be a guarantee for Jo Hee-de's impeachment," adding, "Please elect the proud leader of the Democratic Party, not the leader of the 'Reform Party,' not the leader of the 'Cheongnae Party,' and not the leader of the 'Cho Kuk Innovation Party.'"
The Democratic Party currently elects its leader by combining 70% from regional votes by dues-paying members and a national delegates' vote with 30% from a public opinion poll. The final winner will be announced at about 6:25 p.m. that day.
So far, excluding the strategic region weighting, the cumulative vote share has Kim at 49.91% in the lead. Jung is at 41.41%, and Song Young-gil is at 8.58%. The gap between Kim and Jung is 54,567 votes, or 8.40 percentage points (p). A 5% weighting is applied for strategic regions.