Is It the Sim Sang-jung Momentum or the Lee Jeong-mi Replacement Debate?

Lee Jung-mi, Sim Sang-jung Block Majority
"Relied Too Long on One Person"
Final Presidential Candidates Confirmed on 12th
via Online and Automated Phone Voting

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] In the Justice Party presidential primary, where Sim Sang-jung was expected to win comfortably, former leader Lee Jeong-mi caused a surprising upset, drawing attention to the possibility of a generational change becoming a reality.

Lee, who pushed the primary to a runoff, appeared on the radio on the morning of the 8th and self-assessed, "I have been entrusted with the mandate from party members that leadership change is absolutely necessary for the Justice Party to create a new future for the next 10 years." In the primary held from the 1st to the 6th, Sim received 46.42% support, failing to secure a majority. Accordingly, a runoff with Lee, who received 37.9%, will be held until the 12th. Lee also said, "Until now, the Justice Party has relied too long on just one person, Sim Sang-jung."

The Justice Party has long been operated around two well-known politicians, the late Roh Hoe-chan and Sim Sang-jung. Although there were strong demands for generational change both inside and outside the party, the promising former leader Kim Jong-cheol stepped down early this year due to a sexual harassment incident, failing to discover new leadership. Ultimately, this primary result hints at the conflict and change among Justice Party supporters between the prevailing theory of Sim Sang-jung and the generational change theory seeking to overcome it.

Regarding the primary result of failing to secure a majority, Sim emphasized his competitiveness, saying, "I believe that in the general election, voters will confidently choose the candidate who will lead the Justice Party to victory." The Justice Party will finalize its presidential candidate on the 12th after online and automated phone voting.

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