Lee Jae Myung Achieves Landslide Victory in Yeongnam Primary, Solidifies Lead with 89.56% Cumulative Vote

Former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae Myung has solidified his lead by achieving a decisive victory in the Yeongnam region following his win in the Chungcheong region during the Democratic Party's presidential primary. Having completed half of the four regional primaries, Lee's cumulative vote share now stands at nearly 90%.

Former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae Myung (from left in the photo), former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung Soo, and Gyeonggi Governor Kim Dong Yeon, among the Democratic Party presidential primary candidates, are greeting at the "Yeongnam Region Joint Speech Meeting for the Selection of the 21st Presidential Election Candidates" held on the 20th at the Ulsan Exhibition Convention Center in Ulju-gun, Ulsan. Photo by Yonhap News

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According to the Democratic Party Central Election Commission on April 21, Lee garnered 88.15% of the votes in the previous Chungcheong region primary, and secured 90.81% in the second Yeongnam region primary. His cumulative vote share to date is 89.56%.

Since the electoral college is composed of party members with voting rights and delegates, this result is interpreted as a near sweep of party sentiment. Analysts attribute this outcome to the strong desire among party members for a change in government.

The so-called "Eodaemyung" (an acronym meaning "the presidential candidate will inevitably be Lee Jae Myung") and the "Lee Jae Myung dominance theory" have become a reality within the party's primary. The gap in cumulative vote shares between Lee and other candidates?Gyeonggi Governor Kim Dong Yeon (5.27%) and former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung Soo (5.17%)?is substantial.

With most expecting Lee to advance to the presidential election without a runoff, attention is now focused on his final vote share. A Democratic Party official stated, "It is still difficult to predict the outcome of the public opinion poll, which accounts for 50% of the result," but added, "If the current trend continues, Lee's final vote share could surpass that of last August's party convention." Lee was elected party leader on August 18 last year with a vote share of 85.4% in the party leadership primary.

The Democratic Party will continue its primaries in Honam on the 26th, and in the Seoul metropolitan area, Gangwon, and Jeju on the 27th. The final candidate is expected to be determined on the 27th by combining the results of the regional party member and delegate votes (50%) with a public opinion poll (50%). If no candidate secures a majority, a runoff will be held on the 29th and 30th, with the final candidate to be selected on the 1st of next month.

Meanwhile, since the reinstatement of the direct presidential election system, the highest primary vote share ever recorded within the Democratic Party and its predecessors was by former President Kim Dae Jung. In the 15th presidential election in 1997, Kim was selected as the candidate after winning 78.04% of the vote in the New Politics National Assembly (the predecessor of the Democratic Party) primary, and went on to win the presidential election that same year.

Separately, on the morning of April 21, Lee stated via social media that he would "resolve the Korea Discount through recovery and growth and usher in the era of a KOSPI 5000," pledging to push again for amendments to the Commercial Act and to introduce a one-strike-out rule for stock price manipulation as part of his campaign promises.

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