At the Democratic Party convention's first debate, sparring over Jung Cheong-rae's reelection

At the first televised debate of the Democratic Party's August 17 national convention, sparring continued over candidate Jeong Cheongrae, who is challenging for a consecutive term as party leader. At the debate held on the 29th at MBC in Sangam, Mapo District, Seoul, candidates Song Younggil, Jeong Cheongrae, and Kim Minseok exchanged positions over the party leader post. Candidate Song Younggil raised questions about the need for Jeong to serve another term, citing the local election results and the party's internal assessment, while candidate Kim Minseok also pressed Jeong, saying that the party needed to properly sort out its messaging regarding the party and the president. Candidate Jeong Cheongrae replied that he could do better through reelection, and countered that defining the local elections as a defeat could hurt party members' pride. He also responded to the criticism by claiming that he had spoken with President Lee Jaemyung longer and more deeply.