[Anchor]

Former Democratic Party leader Jung Chung-rae has officially announced his bid for another term as party leader. With this, the race for the Democratic Party's leadership has shaped up into a five-way contest, including former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, former party leader Song Young-gil, and Representative Ko Min-jung, who had previously declared their candidacies. However, with only three days left until candidate registration, the method of election has yet to be decided.

Reporter Park Jae-yeon has the story.

[Reporter]

Today (July 13), three days before the candidate registration for the Democratic Party's August 17 national convention, former party leader Jung Chung-rae officially announced his bid for a consecutive term.

Seemingly conscious of criticisms regarding conflicts between the party and the presidential office during his tenure, he mentioned President Lee Jae-myung 31 times, emphasizing a "one-team" spirit.

[Jung Chung-rae/Former Democratic Party Leader: I am confident that I am the one who will protect President Lee Jae-myung until the end.]

He also emphasized the completion of prosecution reforms, such as the full abolition of supplementary investigation rights, while taking a jab at his leadership rival, former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok.

[Jung Chung-rae/Former Democratic Party Leader: I have never left the party, and I have never betrayed it. I believe I have a certain distinctiveness and competitiveness compared to others...]

Former Prime Minister Kim and former party leader Song, who have already declared their bids for the party leadership, both directed criticism toward the former leader.

[Kim Min-seok/Former Prime Minister: You all know when the party wavers and which path leads to mistakes. I believe we are at such a critical juncture now.]

[Song Young-gil/Former Democratic Party Leader: How can it be that the leader of the ruling party and the President are fighting each other, making the so-called 'Myeong-Cheong War' the front-page headline just one year into the term?]

However, there is still a standoff between the pro-Lee faction, which supports a "preferential voting system" if no candidate receives a majority of votes in the leadership election, and the anti-Jung faction, which opposes it.

The leadership held a meeting last night, but failed to reach an agreement. As the meeting scheduled for today was also canceled due to persistent disagreements, voices of criticism have emerged.

[Ko Min-jung/Democratic Party Representative (MBC Radio 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus'): (Whether it is a preferential voting system or a runoff system) is not important at all from the perspective of the public. Whatever they decide to do.]

The Democratic Party leadership plans to conclude discussions on the primary method by the day after tomorrow, which is the day before candidate registration begins.

(Video reporting: Oh Young-chun, Kim Yong-woo | Video editing: Lee Seung-jin)