▲ Former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok gives a speech during a joint speech session with rival candidates for the leadership position of the Democratic Party in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on Aug. 16, 2026. (Yonhap)
▲ The three candidates vying for the leadership of the Democratic Party -- Song Young-gil, Jung Chung-rae and Kim Min-seok (from L to R) -- applaud before their joint speech session in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on Aug. 16, 2026. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Aug. 16 (Yonhap) -- Former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok won the Democratic Party (DP) primaries in the capital region Sunday, taking another step toward winning the leadership race for the ruling party.

Kim earned a combined 46.66 percent of the votes from Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, with Jung Chung-rae, pursuing his second consecutive term as DP leader, finishing second at 46.28 percent.

Former DP leader Song Young-gil was a distant third with 7.06 percent.

Previously, he beat his rivals in the following rounds: the central Chungcheong region; Incheon and Jeju Island; Gangwon Province, Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province; and Gwangju and Jeolla provinces. Jung staked his claim in Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang Province.

Kim leads the race in cumulative votes with 49.91 percent, and Jung trails him at 41.51 percent.

The new leader, expected to play a key role in overseeing the nomination of candidates for the 2028 parliamentary elections, will be elected at the party's national convention Monday.

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