Candidates for the ruling Democratic Party's leadership race, (L-R) Kim Min-seok, Chung Cheong-rae and Song Young-gil, hold their hands up together to greet the crowd at a joint speech for the preliminary elections for party leader and Supreme Council members at CJB Media Center in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, South Korea, 01 August 2026. Photo by YONHAP / EPA
Aug. 2 (Asia Today) -- Chung Cheong-rae rebounded in the South Korean ruling Democratic Party's leadership race Sunday, defeating Kim Min-seok in the southeastern region after narrowly losing the opening contest in central South Korea.
Chung and Kim have each won one of the first two regional rounds ahead of the party's Aug. 17 national convention, leaving the race for party leader virtually even.
Chung received 25,189 votes, or 46.65%, from eligible party members in Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang Province.
Kim finished second with 23,675 votes, or 43.84%, leaving Chung ahead by 1,514 votes, or 2.81 percentage points.
