Last-Minute Unification of the '97 Group' in Anti-Myeong Rally Shrouded in Uncertainty

Lee Jae-myung and the '1-on-1 Showdown' Structure Key
Decision on Whether a Late Rally Will Cause an Upset
Kang Hoon-sik: "Yun's Campaign Hasn't Started Yet"
"Non-Capital Region Needs Time to Make Its Voice Heard"
Ongoing Tensions Over Timing and Method of Unification

[Asia Economy Reporters Koo Chae-eun and Park Joon-yi] The biggest highlight of the Democratic Party’s August 28 leadership election, the ‘anti-Lee Jae-myung unification,’ is already hitting snags from the start due to a ‘same dream but different strategies push and pull.’ Candidate Park Yong-jin has been sending love calls to candidate Kang Hoon-sik, saying "Let’s meet every day," but Kang has responded passively, saying, "I need time to persuade with my vision and voice."

Within the party, there is a view that if the two candidates succeed in unifying, the pro-Moon faction including the broader pro-Moon group and the anti-Lee faction could unite and cause an upset. However, the ongoing tension between the two candidates over the method and timing of unification remains a variable.

On the 1st, candidate Kang appeared on a radio show and said about the unification of the 97 group (those born in the 70s and who entered university in the 90s), "I haven’t even run the printing press to see what kind of editorial stance or thoughts they have, like a newspaper company. They want to unite without any explanation." He especially emphasized, "There needs to be time to convey the voices from difficult regions," adding, "As the only candidate from outside the metropolitan area, I promised to meet with regional committee heads from Daegu, Gyeongbuk, and Gangwon to properly convey their sentiments."

Candidate Park Yong-jin, who is running for the party leader election, is delivering his policy speech at the preliminary election for the selection of the Democratic Party of Korea's party leader and Supreme Council members held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 28th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Candidate Kang Hoon-sik, who is running for the party leader election, is delivering his policy speech at the preliminary election for the selection of the Democratic Party of Korea's party leader and Supreme Council members held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 28th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Kang’s move to ‘control the pace’ is interpreted as a strategy to maintain a ‘three-way race’ for as long as possible instead of a one-on-one contest, aiming to raise his recognition, which is considered a weakness. However, he did not close the door on unification, saying, "I haven’t shut down the possibility of unification."

The variable is time. Candidate Park said on a radio show last month, "It would be best before August 3, when the first regional voting takes place." On the other hand, Kang said, "I need time to properly introduce Kang Hoon-sik to general party members and the public," without setting a specific deadline. From the 3rd, the Democratic Party’s nationwide tour primaries begin, likely focusing on policy presentations.

Future trends in various opinion polls will also be a variable that could sway the direction of unification talks. If candidate Park breaks the ‘one strong, two weak’ structure and gains momentum, Kang could hold the casting vote even with low support, increasing pressure for unification to boost the leadership election’s excitement. A Democratic Party second-term lawmaker told this outlet, "Although the ‘Eodaemyeong’ (meaning ‘everyone for Lee’) front is clear, if the 97 group unifies and a one-on-one showdown is drawn, candidate Lee could feel considerable pressure. Vote share will also be an important indicator for future party leadership control."

Meanwhile, candidate Lee, who attended the National Defense Committee’s full meeting that day, did not make any separate remarks regarding the leadership election.

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