NORTH JEOLLA PROVINCE — Representative Lee Jae-myung, the former leader of South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party (DP), has secured another victory in the party's ongoing leadership primaries, this time in North Jeolla Province. The win, which took place on Saturday, marks a significant stride in Lee's campaign to achieve a second term as party leader.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee garnered a commanding 84.79 percent of the votes in North Jeolla, significantly outpacing his nearest rival, former Interior Minister Kim Doo-gwan, who received 13.32 percent. This primary was part of a larger series spanning 15 legs across the country, with the North Jeolla event being the 10th. Prior to this, Lee had already amassed 90.41 percent of the votes across nine primaries.
The Democratic Party is set to elect its new leader at a national convention scheduled for August 18, utilizing a combination of primary results, general public surveys, and online polls conducted by party representatives. Despite being embroiled in several controversies, including a land development scandal in Seongnam, Lee is favored to win a second term and is viewed as a leading liberal candidate for the 2027 presidential election.