BUSAN — Rep. Lee Jae-myung, former leader of South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party (DP), claimed victories in party leadership primaries held Saturday in the southeastern cities of Busan and Ulsan, and in South Gyeongsang Province.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee secured dominant wins as he seeks a second term as party leader. In Busan, he garnered 92.08 percent of the votes, significantly outpacing former Interior Minister Kim Doo-gwan and another candidate, Kim Ji-soo. Similar majorities were seen in Ulsan and South Gyeongsang, with Lee receiving 90.56 percent and 87.22 percent of the votes, respectively. These elections come after Lee’s resignation in June, a necessary step under current party rules to qualify for re-election.
The Democratic Party has scheduled its national convention for August 18, where the new leader will be officially selected based on the outcomes of the 15-leg primary race, a survey of the general public, and online polls among party representatives. Despite being involved in several controversies, including a land development scandal, Lee is favored to win his second term and is considered a leading candidate for the 2027 presidential election.