Kim Minseok and Song Younggil Head to Honam on Same Day... Democratic Party Leadership Race Heats Up

Attending the Jeonnam-Gwangju Metropolitan Special City Assembly Members-Elect Workshop Together

Following Chung Cheongrae, Successive Visits to the Region... Targeting Voters in Honam

Party Leadership Race Heats Up Ahead of August 17 Conven

With the party convention scheduled for August, the next leadership contenders of the Democratic Party are accelerating their outreach in the Honam region. They have been visiting Jeollanam-do and Gwangju, which are the party's traditional strongholds, to broaden their contact with local organizations. Competition is also intensifying behind the scenes over the organization of metropolitan assembly members, which was formed immediately after the local elections.

According to local political circles on June 16, Prime Minister Kim Minseok and Representative Song Younggil, both mentioned as candidates for the next party leader, are scheduled to attend the Jeonnam-Gwangju Metropolitan Special City Assembly Members-Elect Workshop together on this day.

Prime Minister Kim is set to attend a coordination meeting of relevant institutions preparing for the launch of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Metropolitan Special City, which will be held at the Bitgaram Complex Culture and Sports Center in Naju that afternoon. Later, around 8 p.m., he plans to visit the Democratic Party members-elect workshop in Boseong, Jeollanam-do.

Prime Minister Kim Minseok is speaking at the Cabinet meeting and the Emergency Economic Headquarters meeting held at the Government Seoul Complex in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 16th. Photo by Jo Yongjun

While the official purpose is to inspect the government's preparations for the launch of the special metropolitan city, political observers view this as closely linked to the upcoming party leadership contest. Starting on this day, Prime Minister Kim will embark on a three-day, two-night itinerary in Jeollanam-do and Gwangju through June 18. There is speculation both inside and outside political circles that Kim may step down as prime minister as early as the end of this month or early next month and then run for party leader.

Representative Song will also attend the workshop on the same day to meet with the members-elect. This workshop marks the first time that the newly elected members of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Metropolitan Special City Assembly, who won in the June 3 local elections, are gathering to discuss the initial composition of the assembly, selection of the chairpersons, and the direction of standing committee operations.

Previously, immediately after winning a National Assembly by-election, Song visited Gwangju on June 7 and paid respects at the National 5·18 Democratic Cemetery. Political circles have interpreted this as the de facto start of his campaign for party leadership.

Jeong Cheong-rae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea (left), is shaking hands with lawmaker Song Young-gil while entering the members' meeting held at the National Assembly on the 11th. [Yonhap News]

Regarding the reason for his local visit, Representative Song said, "I'm going because it's my hometown." When asked if his moves were aimed at a party leadership bid, he replied, "That's for journalists to judge." He also stated, "The Jeollanam-do and Gwangju development vision of the Lee Jaemyung administration is firm, and I will provide full support." On semiconductor investment in the Jeonnam-Gwangju area, he commented, "Preparations will be completed soon. Just wait and see."

Current party leader Chung Cheongrae also visited the Honam region early on. On June 12, Chung visited Jeollanam-do and Gwangju, paid his respects at the 5·18 Democratic Cemetery, and held a Democratic Party on-site Supreme Council meeting to gauge the sentiment of the local community.

The Democratic Party plans to hold its national convention on August 17 to elect its next party leader and Supreme Council members. If there are four or more candidates for party leader, a preliminary primary will be held, followed by a main regional circuit primary.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.