Ex-PM wins Jeju, Incheon party-member primaries in leadership race

Former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok secured victories in Incheon and Jeju Island's party-member primaries on Saturday, marking a turnaround from his loss to rival Jung Chung-rae in Busan, Ulsan, and South Gyeongsang Province on August 2nd.

Kim triumphed in Incheon with 47.75 percent of the votes, compared to Jung's 42.08 percent, while Song Young-gil received 10.17 percent. In Jeju Island, Kim secured 47.75 percent against Jung's 42.08 percent, with Song Young-gil again garnering 10.17 percent.

This win brings Kim's overall vote share to 45.42 percent, slightly edging out Jung's 44.56 percent across the three primaries held thus far. The Democratic Party (DP) leadership race remains a contest between Jung, identified with the party's hard-line faction, and Kim, a key political ally of President Lee Jae Myung. The DP is poised to elect its new leader at its national convention on August 17, a role crucial for nominating candidates for the April 2028 parliamentary elections.