SEOUL—Rep. Lee Jae-myung, the former leader of South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party (DP), secured a decisive win in the Seoul primary on Saturday, positioning him for a potential second term as party leader.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee garnered 92.43 percent of the votes from registered DP members in Seoul, dramatically outpacing his competitors, former Interior Minister Kim Doo-gwan, who received 6.27 percent, and Kim Ji-soo, who trailed with 1.3 percent. This victory in Seoul marked the conclusion of the primary season, where Lee had consistently led the field, accumulating nearly 90 percent of the votes over 17 rounds of primaries, including votes from party members abroad.
Lee's imminent leadership appointment is scheduled to be formalized at a national convention on Sunday. His resignation in June, a requirement under current party rules to run for reelection, set the stage for his robust return to the party's helm. Despite being embroiled in multiple controversies, including a significant land development scandal in Seongnam, Lee is viewed as a frontrunner for the DP's nomination in the upcoming 2027 presidential election.