The race for leadership positions within the Democratic Party is intensifying as the party approaches its national convention on August 17th. A crucial element of this contest is the election of new members to the Supreme Council, a process that has seen shifting alliances and strategic maneuvers among different factions.
Shifting Tides in Supreme Council Elections
Leading up to the August 17th convention, which will determine the party’s next leadership, internal competition for the remaining Supreme Council seats has become fierce. Initially, the results from the Honam region, announced on August 15th, indicated a strong showing for the “pro-Moon” faction, with candidates Park Sung-won, Seo Mi-hwa, and Kim Yong securing positions. However, the subsequent release of results from the Seoul metropolitan area on August 16th dramatically altered the landscape.
The Seoul results saw candidate Kim Yong’s standing slip, leading to a surge for the “pro-Chung” faction. This shift means that candidates aligned with “pro-Chung” policies, such as Choi Min-hee, Lee Sung-yoon, and Han Min-soo, now hold a majority of the contested seats. According to the Democratic Party’s Central Election Management Committee on August 16th, Choi Min-hee emerged as the frontrunner in the delegate vote count, capturing 16.91% of the vote.
Park Sung-won, who had taken the lead after the Honam regional results, dropped to second place with 16.60%. Following them were Seo Mi-hwa (15.18%), Lee Sung-yoon (13.94%), and Han Min-soo (13.77%), all securing spots within the elected delegates. Notably, Lee Sung-yoon, who was ranked sixth in the Honam region, climbed to fourth place following the strong performance in the Seoul metropolitan area.
Candidates Outside the Top Ranks Make Strategic Moves
Candidates falling outside the top ranks included Kim Yong (13.62%), Lim Mi-ae (6.62%), and Kim Young-ho (3.37%). Kim Yong, who was in fourth place after the Honam regional vote, found himself outside the elected delegate positions after the Seoul results were tallied. This outcome meant that all “pro-Moon” faction candidates ended up outside the elected delegate positions, while all “pro-Chung” candidates secured their spots.
In the immediate aftermath of the Seoul regional results, several “pro-Moon” candidates who did not secure delegate positions announced their withdrawal from the race and publicly endorsed Kim Yong. Lim Mi-ae, announcing her withdrawal, urged delegates to select Kim Yong. She also expressed a desire for Park Sung-won to become the Senior Supreme Council member and for Seo Mi-hwa to be elected, stating, “We need at least three people: Party Chairman Kim Min-seok, and two Supreme Council members.”
Kim Young-ho echoed this sentiment, emphasizing Kim Yong’s long-standing relationship with President Lee Jae-myung. He argued that Kim Yong’s exclusion from the leadership would be a significant loss for the entire Democratic Party. “I ask that the single vote I was to receive be consolidated for Kim Yong,” he pleaded.
Kim Min-seok, a candidate for party chairman, also supported this strategic consolidation. He explained that Lim Mi-ae and Kim Young-ho withdrew their candidacies to rally support for Park Sung-won and Kim Yong. “It would be truly wonderful if the picture for the new leadership included Senior Supreme Council member Park Sung-won, and Supreme Council members Seo Mi-hwa and Kim Yong,” he stated.
Understanding the Supreme Council Roles
The candidate who secures the top position in the Supreme Council election automatically becomes the Senior Supreme Council member. While this role carries no additional formal authority beyond that of other council members, it holds significant symbolic importance. Under the current standings, Choi Min-hee is poised to become the Senior Supreme Council member.
Factional Reactions and Appeals
The “pro-Chung” faction reacted negatively to the “pro-Moon” candidates’ strategic withdrawals. Choi Min-hee criticized the moves on her Facebook page, calling them “clumsy and desperate maneuvers.” She also dismissed the endorsements as lacking sincerity, likening them to “last-minute attempts.” She urged convention delegates to “judge this dirty play” and to “give strength to the ‘Team Chung-jae’ (Team Reform).”
Han Min-soo, who is currently within the elected delegate positions, made a heartfelt appeal to the delegates. “The final moment has arrived where the new leadership will be decided by your choice tomorrow. I implore you, earnestly and desperately, to help Han Min-soo,” he stated.
Final Decision Awaits Convention
The Democratic Party will announce the final results at the 3rd Regular National Convention, scheduled to be held in Daejeon on August 17th. The outcome will be determined by combining the results of the online delegate vote, which runs from the previous day until the convention, and a national public opinion poll (representing 30% of the total vote). These results will be merged with the delegate vote counts that have taken place up to this point.
