Preliminary Election for Supreme Council Members: Lee Jae-jung and Jeong Gwang-il 'Cut Off'

Preliminary Election for Today's Supreme Council Member Selection
Lee Won-wook, Yang Hyang-ja, Noh Woong-rae, Yeom Tae-young, Han Byung-do, Kim Jong-min, Shin Dong-geun, So Byung-hoon Advance to Finals
Joint Nationwide Campaign Speeches Begin from the 25th

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] Lee Jae-jung, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea running for the Supreme Council member, and Jeong Gwang-il, Secretary General of the World Korean Democratic Association, were cut off in the preliminary election.

On the afternoon of the 24th, the Democratic Party held a "Preliminary Election for the Selection of Supreme Council Members" at the National Assembly Members' Office Building's main conference room, confirming 8 candidates out of 10 running for Supreme Council members to advance to the final round.

The electorate, composed of the party leader, floor leader, Supreme Council members, National Assembly vice speakers, chairpersons and vice chairpersons of the National Delegates' Convention, standing advisors and members, and chairpersons of the National Committee, voted using a two-name voting system with one vote per person. Some online voting results were also reflected.

The candidates advancing to the final round are 8 members excluding Lee Jae-jung and Secretary General Jeong: Lee Won-wook, Yang Hyang-ja, Noh Woong-rae, Yeom Tae-young, Han Byung-do, Kim Jong-min, Shin Dong-geun, and So Byung-hoon. According to the rule that one of the five elected Supreme Council member seats must be reserved for a woman, Yang Hyang-ja, the only remaining female candidate, is expected to be automatically elected as a Supreme Council member.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The candidates' speeches were also heated that day. Suwon Mayor Yeom Tae-young, who spoke first, appealed for support, saying, "The policy makers should not be just the central government but a new framework should be created together with local governments," and "The sweat and tears of grassroots politicians gave birth to the Moon administration, and at least one grassroots local politician should enter the party leadership."

Next, four-term lawmaker Noh Woong-rae said, "Only the success of the Moon Jae-in administration is in Noh Woong-rae's mind. Only the candlelight revolution and the completion of reform are in Noh Woong-rae's heart," and emphasized, "As a politician who sacrifices for the party and takes responsibility for the results, I will prove that there will never be a lame duck period in the Moon administration."

Yang Hyang-ja, an expert in the real economy, said, "I will demonstrate the Democratic Party's capabilities in the economic, technological, and women's sectors and repay with a new history of regime re-creation," appealing for votes by saying, "Regardless of first-term, multiple-term, female, or male, the other vote out of two belongs to the Korean economy."

Shin Dong-geun said, "The way to overcome the crisis is for the party, government, and Blue House to work as one," and added, "I will represent the position of those outside the National Assembly and connect first-term and second-term lawmakers."

Second-term lawmaker Kim Jong-min emphasized, "The leadership of the next leadership is really important," and said, "We must unite our party's support base and also go together with the moderate faction for regime re-creation."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee Won-wook, former floor deputy leader, said, "The people are asking the Democratic Party what justice is. They are pointing fingers at the Democratic Party, saying it has lost fairness and shows double standards," and added, "I will create a fair Korea. I will definitely succeed in regime re-creation."

Han Byung-do, who served as the Blue House political secretary, emphasized his experience, saying, "Having lived as the president's hands and feet, I now want to become the Democratic Party's hands and feet as a Supreme Council member."

Second-term lawmaker So Byung-hoon said, "For the upcoming presidential election victory and local election victory, there should be at least one reliable Supreme Council member who knows all the party's circumstances well," and emphasized, "I will support the successful conclusion of the Moon Jae-in administration and prepare for the Democratic Party's regime re-creation with those achievements."

Meanwhile, party leadership candidates such as Lee Nak-yeon, Kim Boo-kyum, and Park Joo-min, along with the Supreme Council candidates who passed the cutoff, will begin nationwide joint speeches starting from Jeju on the 25th until the 22nd of next month.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.