Rallying the Core Base: How Will It Impact the Party Leadership Race?

Lee Jae-myung, the party leader, has embarked on a campaign to appease core supporters, aiming to steer the internal power struggle in his desired direction. With former Supreme Council member Chung Jin-sang officially announcing his bid for a consecutive term as Democratic Party leader on June 24, 2026, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and Representative Song Young-gil are also expected to declare their candidacies for the party convention on August 17. They are likely to seek an anti-Chung Jin-sang alliance in the leadership race.

In his one-year anniversary press conference on June 8, President Lee expressed disappointment with the Democratic Party's response to local elections, positively assessed Prime Minister Kim Min-seok's leadership, and mentioned that it would be appropriate for him to take on 'another role.' Following this, only Prime Minister Kim was invited to a send-off event for the President's European tour, with former Representative Chung excluded. Analyses suggested a cold demeanor during a handshake with former Representative Chung at the return-home send-off event. Former Justice Party lawmaker Park Won-seok analyzed that the President would prefer a 'two-rail' scenario where either Prime Minister Kim Min-seok or Representative Song Young-gil secures party leadership, rather than Chung Jin-sang's re-election.

As the President revealed a negative stance on former Representative Chung's re-election, concerns have been raised about increased conflict between the President and the former party leader, and heightened burdens on state administration, as Chung has chosen an independent path rather than accepting the President's stance.

One of the key issues in the party leadership race is the 'abolition of supplementary investigation rights.' Former Representative Chung Jin-sang has consistently advocated for the 'complete abolition of supplementary investigation rights' whenever President Lee mentioned the exceptional allowance of supplementary investigation rights as a personal opinion. While touring Europe, President Lee stated that problems could arise if even highly exceptional cases where supplementary investigations cannot be abused are blocked. However, former Representative Chung argued at a Supreme Council meeting on the 22nd that complete abolition is the right answer, stating, 'Even if given a supplementary investigation right as small as a spoon, a sword can be made.' He also emphasized the completion of prosecutorial reform when he resigned from the party leadership on the 24th. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok also stated his agreement with the abolition of supplementary investigation rights.

The government officially announced 'abolition of supplementary investigation rights' as its final position on the 25th. Consequently, it is anticipated that the issue of abolishing supplementary investigation rights will find it difficult to serve as a major spark for the party leadership race. Prime Minister Kim conveyed the government's stance to the party, and the government stated it would respect discussions and decisions made by the National Assembly.