The Democratic Party of Korea's next party leadership election is flowing into a power struggle within the 'true pro-Lee' faction. Lawmaker Jeong Cheong-rae (fourth term, Seoul Mapo-eul) officially announced his candidacy on the 15th, and it is reported that Lawmaker Park Chan-dae (third term, Incheon Yeonsu-gap) will soon declare his challenge for the party leadership. Within the party, the prevailing view is that the face-off between Jeong Cheong-rae and Park Chan-dae will be a 'pro-Lee civil war' over who will inherit 'Myeong-sim.'
According to multiple ruling party officials on the 20th, Lawmaker Park Chan-dae has been contemplating his candidacy for party leader until recently but is said to have solidified his decision. Initially, there was talk of his running for Incheon mayor next year, but as calls for him to enter the party convention became stronger from both inside and outside the party, he seems to be arranging his position in favor of this.
A source close to Park said, “There is no confirmed timing for the announcement of his candidacy. (However) I understand he has shown his intention to run to those around him.”
Lawmaker Park was elected as the floor leader last year with overwhelming support from the pro-Lee faction, essentially being elected in an acclamation-style manner. During the state of emergency and impeachment crisis, he co-led the Democratic Party along with then-leader Lee Jae-myung, serving a central role in the 'Myeong-sim line.' When President Lee Jae-myung resigned from the party leadership to run for president, he took over as the acting party leader and led the 6/3 presidential election. Having previously stepped up to fill a leadership void during the presidential election phase, he is evaluated as having a deep trust relationship with President Lee. Lawmaker Park is also analyzed as having a relatively strong support base centered on practical organizations in the metropolitan area and moderate party members.
Another candidate for the party leadership is Lawmaker Jeong Cheong-rae, who declared his candidacy on the 15th. He was elected as the senior chief member in 2022 and collaborated with then-leader Lee Jae-myung. Lawmaker Jeong is regarded as a representative hardliner within the party. In fact, he has led an offensive legislative strategy by serving as the chair of the National Assembly's Judiciary and Legal Affairs Committee over the past year, pushing several key bills to the plenary session despite strong opposition from the then-ruling party. During the state of emergency and impeachment crisis, he has represented the strong pro-Lee faction as the head of the impeachment prosecution team against former President Yoon Suk-yeol.
In his declaration for this candidacy, he also promised 'reform of the prosecution, judiciary, and media,' once again highlighting his clarity. Lawmaker Jeong is known for his strong 'combat style,' delivering combative and assertive messages through social media and YouTube, thereby consolidating party sentiment. A strong loyalty base known as 'passionate party sentiment' can be found in online political communities.
Both candidates have close ties with President Lee Jae-myung. However, there are clear differences in their political lines, styles, and party management strategies. Among party members, Lawmaker Jeong has an image of a 'hardline combat-style representative,' while Lawmaker Park Chan-dae is seen as closer to a 'management-style representative' with strengths in stability, practicality, and coordination between the party and government.
Having entered the race for party leadership early, Lawmaker Jeong is putting all efforts into 'grabbing party sentiment.' He particularly views Honam, where about 30% of the 1.12 million rights party members are concentrated, as the key battleground within the party and is focusing on building an organizational foundation in this region. On the 19th, he visited the markets in Goheung, Beolgyo, Gwangju Malbawi Market, and Mokpo Peace Square, and on the 20th, he went to Yeongam and Muan. Lawmaker Jeong is appealing to 'party sentiment' by promising the abolition of the delegate voting system and the expansion of voting rights for rights party members.
In the meantime, the minority anti-Lee faction within the party is maintaining a wait-and-see stance rather than putting forward a clear candidate, watching the competition between Jeong and Park. Some observers have raised the possibility that the 'pro-Lee stronghold structure' of Jeong Cheong-rae and Park Chan-dae could give rise to a 'non-mainstream candidate' based on negative sentiment.
This party leadership election is a one-year by-election to fill the party leadership post that has become vacant due to President Lee's election. However, it is expected to be the first ruling party leadership election after the launch of the Lee Jae-myung government and will be a watershed moment in determining the party's direction. The newly elected party leader will not only be responsible for the nomination and election strategy for the local elections in June next year but also will play a role in coordinating the party's initiatives during the first half of the Lee Jae-myung administration. Depending on which side gains the upper hand, the future strategies and atmosphere of the Lee Jae-myung government and the Democratic Party are expected to fluctuate significantly.
A party official said, “Although this party leadership term is for one year, there is considerable sentiment among party members and within the assembly that this position carries a significant responsibility for the success of the Lee Jae-myung government.”
Meanwhile, the Democratic Party's convention will start candidate registration on July 10, followed by preliminary elections on the 15th, from which 2 (or 3) candidates for the main election will be selected. The regional tour elections will be held in the following order: △July 19 in Chungcheong △July 20 in Yeongnam △July 26 in Honam △July 27 in Gyeonggi/Incheon △August 2 in Seoul/Gangwon/Jeju, and the party leader will be confirmed on the 2nd. The party leadership election will be combined based on a ratio of 15% from delegates, 55% from rights party members, and 30% from public opinion polls.