Gwangju: Former Democratic Party (DP) leader Lee Jae-myung secured another victory in his bid for the candidacy in the upcoming June 3 presidential election, winning the primary in the southwestern region of the country. Lee garnered 88.69 percent of the votes in the DP’s primary held in the city of Gwangju and the North and South Jeolla provinces, as reported by party officials.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee is a prominent contender for the liberal party’s presidential candidacy, consistently leading in recent opinion polls. Following the announcement of the results, Lee expressed that the residents of the Honam region have placed greater expectations and responsibility on him.
The Jeolla regions, commonly referred to as the Honam regions, are recognized as a stronghold for the Democratic Party. Lee emphasized the need for increased investment in these areas, criticizing the conservative government for its “flawed” approach to achieving balanced development nationwide. He stated, “We need to invest much more in the area … Balanced development isn’t just about supporting local regions, but it’s an essential choice for our country’s growth and prosperity.”
Lee’s latest triumph follows his decisive wins in the central Chungcheong and southeastern Gyeongsang primaries. Trailing behind Lee in the primary was Gyeonggi Governor Kim Dong-yeon with 7.41 percent of the vote, followed by former South Gyeongsang Governor Kim Kyung-soo with 3.90 percent.