친청3·친명2…호남·수도권서 민주 최고위원 선거 구도 역전

In the final nationwide primary elections held in preparation for the 8·17 Democratic Party congress, the ranking of candidates based on accumulated votes has shifted for the first time. The three candidates from the "친청(친정청래)계" and two from the "친명(친이재명)계" now vie for the majority of elected officials, triggering a "5th place competition."

As of August 16, the Democratic Party congress's elected officials, ranked 1 to 5, included 최민희 (16.91%) · 박선원 (16.60%) · 서미화 (15.18%) · 이성윤 (13.94%) · 한민수 (13.77%). Kim Yung (13.62%), Im Mi-ae (6.62%), and Kim Yong-ho (3.37%) secured the 6th, 7th, and 8th positions respectively. In the final three weeks of the race, regional and party faction voting patterns varied significantly.

In the 호남 region, the 박선원 and 서미화 candidates tied for 1st and 2nd place, while in Seoul and Gyeonggi, the 최민희, 이성윤, and 한민수 candidates ranked 1st through 3rd. Consequently, the election standings for individual candidates shifted. Both 최민희 and 박 후보 retained their 1st and 2nd place positions, while the previously 6th place 이 후보 climbed to 4th, and 친명계 김용 후보 dropped to 6th, reversing the overall election standings.

As a result, the "5th place battle" to secure elected official majority has intensified. With 5th place holder 한 and 6th place 김용 separated by only 2,312 votes (0.15% point), Kim Yung declared on Facebook the day after the election results that "a margin of victory is just a narrow difference. Now only parliamentarians can save Kim Yung."

The 친명계 Im Mi-ae and Kim Yong-ho candidates withdrew their candidacies in response, vowing to support Kim Yung as the highest-ranking candidate. The final election outcome, comprising 70% of parliamentary votes and 30% of public opinion surveys, will be decided at the Democratic Party's 17th congress.