Kim Min-seok Promises to Uproot 'Fake Party Members,' Jeong Cheong-rae Calls for Unity in Final Appeal

The Democratic Party leadership candidates Kim Min-seok, Jeong Cheong-rae, and Song Young-gil made their final appeals for votes on August 17 during the national convention held at the Daejeon Convention Center.

Following the conclusion of delegate voting this afternoon, the Democratic Party is scheduled to combine the results of the previously conducted regular party member voting and public opinion polls to announce the newly elected party leader.

In his policy speech, candidate Kim stated, "We feel a sense of urgency because the Democratic Party, the government, party-government relations, and President Lee Jae-myung could be shaken," appealing to members to "cast a ballot that firmly stabilizes the party with a solid majority."

He went on to emphasize, "For a genuine era of party member sovereignty, we will eradicate the manipulation of party primaries by fake party members," adding, "If necessary, a special independent counsel investigation into Shincheonji and the Unification Church will be introduced, and the party will be purified into a pure democratic political association."

Candidate Kim took the stage to the music of "Legends Never Die" on this day.

Candidate Jeong stated, "During my term as party leader, over 1,000 bills passed the National Assembly plenary session, and we accomplished a great deal, including prosecutorial and judicial reforms." He added, "These are achievements that could not have been attained if the party, government, and presidential office had been out of sync. I hope you will not disparage the outcomes of our reforms."

He then questioned, "They say we cannot win because someone is anti-Lee Jae-myung, a factionalist, or linked to Shincheonji, but how do they intend to win the general election after stripping away key pieces like a game of janggi?" He added, "If only Kim Min-seok is elected while excluding Jeong Cheong-rae, Choi Min-hee, Lee Seong-yun, and Han Min-su, will the Lee Jae-myung administration succeed? We must unite starting from ourselves."

Candidate Jeong chose Ha Hyun-woo's "Stone Block" as his entrance song.

Targeting candidate Jeong, who campaigned on reform, candidate Song remarked, "Since prosecutorial reform is already finished, why keep boiling hangover soup?" He continued, "While I understand the loyal intentions of party members supporting candidate Jeong and supreme council candidates Choi Min-hee, Lee Seong-yun, and Han Min-su, we need to change anew, so why entrust them with it again?"

In the supreme council candidate policy speeches, pro-Jeong Cheong-rae candidates Choi Min-hee, Lee Seong-yun, and Han Min-su clashed until the end with pro-Lee Jae-myung candidates Park Sun-won, Seo Mi-hwa, and Kim Yong.

Pro-Lee Jae-myung lawmakers Lim Mi-ae and Kim Yeong-ho, who ranked 7th and 8th in cumulative vote shares, stepped down from their candidacy the previous day while urging support for candidate Kim Yong.

Consequently, a fierce nerve war broke out between candidate Kim Yong and candidates Lee Seong-yun and Han Min-su, who are locked in a tight race for 5th place with vote shares in the 13% range among regular member votes.

Candidate Lee stated, "Isn't it backroom politics that two supreme council candidates stepped down yesterday while endorsing a specific candidate?" He appealed, "Please gather your strength so we can complete prosecutorial and judicial reforms together with reformist party leader Jeong Cheong-rae."

Candidate Han criticized, "Isn't it truly shameful to blast out text messages urging support for a specific candidate immediately after dropping out?"

Candidate Kim stated, "I will shoulder the burdens of both comrades who stepped down yesterday to rescue Kim Yong from factional politics," adding, "I will become Lim Mi-ae, and I will become Kim Yeong-ho."

Despite rainy and unfavorable weather, around 10,000 delegates and party members (estimated by the party) gathered at the Daejeon Convention Center, where supporters of each candidate chanted names and engaged in enthusiastic cheering battles.

Meanwhile, the convention was temporarily suspended due to a disturbance caused by a citizen who climbed onto a steel structure used for broadcasting equipment installation prior to the candidates' entrance.

With an air safety mat even installed in preparation for a potential fall, firefighters dispatched to the scene personally escorted the citizen down, bringing the disturbance to a close.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.