Kim Minseok Administration Faces Party Unity and Livelihood Challenges... Supreme Council Composition: 3 Pro-Chung, 2 Pro-Lee Jaemyung as a Key Variable

Party Unity as Top Priority
Real Estate and Three Major Mega Projects Also Await

Kim Minseok, the newly appointed leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, immediately faces the urgent task of party unity. He must heal wounds caused by factional conflicts during the party convention. In addition, there are a number of pressing challenges, such as restoring public sentiment on real estate issues before the 2028 general election and supporting the three major mega-projects.

On August 18, at the National Assembly, Chairman Kim met with Kang Hoonshik, Chief Presidential Secretary, and Hong Ikpyo, Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs, once again emphasizing the "ABC Plan," which stands for Affordability (livelihood politics), Broadening (expansive politics), and Competence (capable politics).

Kim Minseok, the newly appointed leader of the Democratic Party, and Choi Minhui, the newly appointed Supreme Council member, along with the leadership, are paying their respects at the Memorial Tower of the National Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul on August 18, 2026. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Chairman Kim is promoting the concept of a "party-government-presidential office one team" based on smooth working relations, but the Supreme Council's composition—three members aligned with Chung Chungrae, two aligned with Lee Jaemyung—remains a variable. Upon her election, Supreme Councilor Choi Minhui wrote on social media, "Although I have become the senior Supreme Council member, these votes are not mine," and added, "I will stand by former Chairman Chung until the end." On KBS Radio that day, Choi also criticized, "The management of this convention was very poor." She remarked, "If it hadn't been for the preferential voting system, candidate Chung Chungrae's vote share would have been much higher."

Former Chairman Chung, who failed to secure reelection, also hinted at making critical remarks. After the convention on August 17, he said on his YouTube channel, "Although Chung Chungrae lost, his arguments did not lose. While Kim Minseok won, his arguments did lose. The essence of this convention was breaking the anti-Lee, divisive, and secret Shincheonji alliances, and that has not happened." He continued, "From now on, I will say what I could not as party leader."

In addition to the negative public sentiment on real estate issues, such as increased tax burdens on non-resident single homeowners, there are multiple policy challenges related to people's livelihoods, including the three mega-projects. Previously, candidate Kim called for a reconsideration of real estate tax reform, labeling it "effectively a tax increase." As his first pledge as party leader, he promised to establish a "Mega Regional Growth Special Committee."

However, many observers expect the new leadership to avoid the level of conflict seen during the convention. A re-elected Democratic Party lawmaker said, "The success of the Lee Jaemyung government and a rebound in approval ratings are urgent tasks. I don't anticipate the infighting within the party to be as fierce as expected." Lawmaker Park Beomgye also said on radio that day, "Once the Supreme Council is formed, a sense of shared fate emerges."

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