Ex-PM Kim wins Gwangju-Jeolla primaries in leadership election

Former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok emerged victorious in the ruling Democratic Party's (DP) primaries held in Gwangju and Jeolla Province on Saturday. Kim secured a significant lead with 57.54 percent of the votes, surpassing his two opponents, Jung Chung-rae and Song Young-gil. Jung secured 32.65 percent of the votes, while Song received 9.81 percent.

This win positions Kim to maintain his lead in the leadership race as the party congress approaches on Monday. The DP expects the new leader to play a crucial role in selecting candidates for the April 2028 parliamentary elections. Kim's cumulative vote count stands at 52.21 percent, while Jung follows with 38.14 percent. The Democratic Party has triumphed in five out of the six regional primary rounds so far.

The final primary, scheduled for Sunday, will take place in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. Kim has triumphed in four previous rounds, including the central Chungcheong region, Incheon and Jeju Island, Gangwon Province, Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, as well as Gwangju and Jeolla Province. Jung narrowly defeated Kim in Busan, Ulsan, and South Gyeongsang Province.