Ex-PM Kim leads former DPK leaders in party leadership race: poll

Former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok is currently leading former Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) leaders Jung Chung-rae and Song Young-gil in the party's leadership race, a poll revealed on Tuesday. According to Realmeter survey, 46.8 percent of respondents expressed support for Kim as the party's next leader, with Jung Chung-rae receiving 35.2 percent and Song Young-gil garnering 6.5 percent.

An additional 11.5 percent of the respondents indicated they were not in favor of any of the candidates or were undecided. Kim also held the most favorable position among dues-paying party members, with 51.8 percent supporting him, followed by Jung at 41.1 percent and Song at 4.7 percent. Kim's lead was notably stronger in DPK's traditional base in the southwestern Honam region, where he secured 57.7 percent support, compared to 28.2 percent for Jung and 6.8 percent for Song.

In Seoul, Kim and Jung were in a closer contest, with Kim leading at 39.9 percent and Jung trailing at 34.5 percent. Song's support in the capital stood at 5.1 percent. The poll was conducted on Sunday and Monday, surveying 1,053 DPK supporters and individuals without party affiliation.