Kim Min-seok holds razor-thin lead as DPK race heads into final stretch - The Korea Times

The Democratic Party of Korea’s leadership candidates prepare for a televised debate at KBC in Gwangju, Monday. From left are Song Young-gil, Jung Chung-rae and Kim Min-seok. Yonhap

The race for leadership of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is heading into its decisive final week, with no clear favorite yet emerging.

Former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok currently holds the lead, but his margin over ex-party leader Jung Chung-rae is just 1.48 percentage points, leaving the contest wide open ahead of crucial votes in Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City, North Jeolla Province and the Seoul metropolitan area.

With regional voting completed everywhere else, Kim currently stands at 46.01 percent, or 95,821 votes, followed by Jung with 44.53 percent, or 92,735 votes. Song Young-gil is currently in third with 9.47 percent, or 19,715 votes.

The gap between Kim and Jung is 3,086 votes.