Ex-Prime Minister Kim Min-seok Wins Seoul Primary, Nears Democratic Party Leadership
Kim now leads the cumulative vote count by more than eight points heading into Monday's national convention, where South Korea's ruling Democratic Party will pick its new leader.
Former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok of South Korea won the Democratic Party's primary vote in the capital region on Sunday, moving closer to capturing the leadership of the ruling party, according to Yonhap and the Korea Herald.
Kim took 46.66 percent of combined votes from Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, the country's most populous province, which surrounds the capital. Rival Jung Chung-rae, who is seeking a second consecutive term as party leader, finished close behind with 46.28 percent, Yonhap reported. Former party leader Song Young-gil placed a distant third with 7.06 percent.
A Regional Sweep
The capital region contest was one of several regional primaries held as part of the Democratic Party's leadership race. Kim had already won earlier rounds in the central Chungcheong region, in Incheon and Jeju Island, in Gangwon Province, Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, and in Gwangju and the Jeolla provinces, according to Yonhap. Jung's only regional win came in Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang Province in the country's southeast.
With the capital region results in, Kim leads the overall cumulative vote at 49.91 percent, compared with 41.51 percent for Jung, Yonhap reported.
What Comes Next
The Democratic Party is set to formally elect its new leader at a national convention on Monday. Whoever wins is expected to play a major role in shaping the party's candidate slate for South Korea's 2028 parliamentary elections, according to Yonhap.
Kim previously served as prime minister, the country's most senior cabinet post beneath the president. The Democratic Party is South Korea's governing party.
Neither Yonhap nor the Korea Herald reported additional comment from Kim or Jung following Sunday's results.
Sources
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