Catching Up with Lee Jae-myung... Ruling Party Candidates Stretching to Run

Kwang-jae Lee Officially Announces Presidential Candidacy
Nak-yeon Lee and Du-gwan Kim Expected in Early June
Likely to Chase Jae-myung Lee

[Asia Economy Reporters Oh Ju-yeon and Jeon Jin-young] The preliminary presidential candidates of the Democratic Party of Korea are beginning to actively pursue their presidential campaigns.

On the 27th, Lee Kwang-jae, a Democratic Party lawmaker known as "Roh Moo-hyun's Man," declared his candidacy, emphasizing "change of era, generation, and players." Within the Democratic Party, this is the third official declaration of candidacy following the announcements by lawmaker Park Yong-jin and Chungnam Governor Yang Seung-jo. That morning, Lee held a press conference at the Korea Federation of SMEs in Yeouido, Seoul, under the theme "Korea, the country that meets the future of the world first." At the conference, he appealed for support, saying, "I will carry on the spirit of Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun. I want to challenge together with the people." Attending the declaration press conference were Lee Hae-chan, the Democratic Party's standing advisor; former party leader Lee Nak-yeon; former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun; lawmakers Kim Du-kwan and Hong Young-pyo; and writer Jo Jung-rae.

After delivering a congratulatory speech at Lee’s candidacy event, former leader Lee Nak-yeon immediately moved to the Yeouido Irum Center to hold a press briefing for his book launch. The dialogue collection titled Lee Nak-yeon's Promise, released that day, contains his national vision. Lee emphasized, "I met with young people and listened to their lives, dreams, frustrations, and despair," adding, "I came to the conclusion that we must make Korea a country that protects my life." His official declaration of candidacy is expected in early June.

Lawmaker Kim Du-kwan will also begin his full-fledged presidential campaign starting with a book launch event on the 9th of next month. His autobiography There Was No Flower Road includes congratulatory messages from former Democratic Party leader Lee Hae-chan and former Minister of SMEs and Startups Park Young-sun. Former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is also expected to appear next month with the release of her dialogue collection.

Among the ruling party’s next presidential candidates, Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung holds an overwhelmingly dominant approval rating, so the messages that the latecomers will deliver to highlight their presence are drawing attention. Park, who was the first in the ruling party to declare his presidential candidacy, attracted attention by proposing bold ideas such as switching to a volunteer military system and mandatory military training for both men and women. Governor Yang concluded his candidacy declaration on the 12th by raising the issue of "balanced development."

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