Jeong Cheong-rae and Kim Min-seok focus on courting support in Honam for the Democratic Party convention
In the Democratic Party convention leadership race, Honam voter sentiment and the preferential voting system are the key battlegrounds Take a quick look at the head-to-head race between Jeong Cheong-rae and Kim Min-seok, along with the variables that could shape the outcome
As the Democratic Party of Korea's Aug. 17 convention race for the party leader is unfolding into a very close contest, lawmakers Jung Chungrae and Kim Minseok are focusing their efforts on securing support in Honam, which is seen as the key battleground.
After the first week of the regional primary tour ended on the 3rd, the two candidates continued their ontheground activities to match schedules with a heavy share of party members in Honam. Lawmaker Kim Minseok visited North Jeolla, South Jeolla, and Gwangju, emphasizing cooperation between the party and the government, while lawmaker Jung Chungrae appealed for support to rally his base and launched a counteroffensive.
This race has introduced a preferential voting system for the first time, and it is being cited as a variable that could affect the outcome. Inside and outside the party, there is speculation that the final showdown could be decided depending on which side the votes of the thirdplace candidate's supporters move toward. The trend in President Lee Jaemyung's approval ratings and interpretations of the partygovernment relationship are also being cited as major variables surrounding the election landscape.