Democratic Party Representative Candidates Kim Min-seok, Jung Chung-rae, and Song Young-gil [Photo by Shin Hyun-woo]

On the 27th, candidates for the Democratic Party's leadership focused their efforts on winning the support of party members in the "Central Region," the first stop on the campaign trail for the August 17 national convention.

As the "bandwagon" effect—the tendency for voters to lean toward the frontrunner—from the first round of voting is expected to influence the rest of the convention, candidates Kim Min-seok, Jung Chung-rae, and Song Young-gil staked their political lives on securing votes in the Chungcheong region.

The Democratic Party will hold voting for delegates and eligible party members in South Chungcheong, North Chungcheong, Daejeon, and Sejong starting on the 28th, with results to be announced on the 1st of next month.

Candidate Kim met with Sejong Mayor Cho Sang-ho at the Sejong City Hall that day, stating, "Our government's top national agenda was the 'Sejong Administrative Capital,'" and pledged to push for a special act to establish Sejong as the administrative capital.

At a meeting with party members in North Chungcheong held at the Cheongju Urban Regeneration Hub Center, Candidate Kim directly targeted Candidate Jung, stating, "We must put an end to the 'clash of the Ming and Qing' (a play on names referring to internal conflict) between the party and the government" and "We cannot have an anti-Lee (Jae-myung) leadership."

Following a meeting with party members in Daejeon the previous day, Candidate Jung held a similar meeting in North Chungcheong that evening.

On Facebook, Candidate Jung emphasized, "Jung Chung-rae, the son of Chungcheong, born in Chungcheong and raised in Daejeon. Only the will of the people, the will of the party, and the heart of the region. A powerful reformist party representative," adding, "I will make the Chungcheong region more convenient through the construction of a national railway network and the expansion of the metropolitan transportation network."

Candidate Song held a press conference at the South Chungcheong Provincial Office, promising, "I will make South Chungcheong the AI capital and extend the GTX-C line to Cheonan-Asan."

In the afternoon, he held town hall meetings for party members in South Chungcheong and Sejong.

Candidates Kim and Jung also clashed over the "alleged political interference by Shincheonji."

When Candidate Jung criticized the Shincheonji allegations raised by Kim as harmful to the party, Candidate Kim retorted, calling the criticism "foolish sophistry."

During a party member meeting, when asked by a member to stop mentioning Shincheonji, Candidate Kim replied, "I don't like it either, but we can't pretend it's not there," adding, "It is the responsibility of the party leadership to act decisively and wisely while minimizing harm to the party."

In response, Candidate Jung appeared on the YouTube channel 'Mae-bul Show' the same day, characterizing the situation as the "Shincheonji incident" and criticizing, "They attacked the party and the party members. They have put the party at risk of being labeled an unconstitutional political organization."

He urged, "If these were absurd claims, the person who raised them should be disciplined."

Democratic Party Representative Election narrows to a three-way race between Kim Min-seok, Jung Chung-rae, and Song Young-gil (Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Shin Hyun-woo = The race for the Democratic Party representative at the August 17 national convention has narrowed to a three-way contest between candidates Kim Min-seok, Jung Chung-rae, and Song Young-gil (in order of ballot numbering). On the 23rd, candidates (from left) Kim Min-seok, Jung Chung-rae, and Song Young-gil, who passed the Democratic Party's preliminary primary for representative, are giving their greetings at the National Assembly Members' Office Building. 2026.7.23 scoop@yna.co.kr

Conflict also persisted over the "Shincheonji allegations" between the pro-Lee (Jae-myung) faction and the candidates for Supreme Council representing the pro-Jung (Chung-rae) faction.

Pro-Lee Supreme Council candidate Park Sun-won stated on CBS Radio, "According to current reports, there were attempts to support anti-Lee candidates during last year's Democratic Party presidential primary," adding, "I suggested that since this (Shincheonji issue) should not hijack the convention, we should investigate it by establishing a body within the party after the convention."

Conversely, pro-Jung candidate Choi Min-hee pointed at Candidate Kim on YTN Radio, stating, "One must raise allegations with solid evidence and be cautious. It could put the party at risk."

Pro-Lee Supreme Council member Kang Deuk-gu countered at a Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly, regarding a demand by pro-Jung Supreme Council member Park Gyu-hwan that Candidate Kim should lose his candidacy and be reported if he fails to provide evidence for the Shincheonji allegations, saying, "If it is true that a specific religious group intervened, that is election fraud; how can raising that suspicion be considered election fraud or harmful to the party?"

In response, pro-Jung Supreme Council member Moon Jung-bok argued, "The situation is turning into one where party members are being branded as Shincheonji followers and the party is suffering the disgrace of being accused of having Shincheonji interfere in party affairs. The candidate who raised the issue should naturally present the evidence, and the party must investigate it accurately."

Senior Spokesperson Kang Joon-hyun met with reporters at the National Assembly and said regarding the Shincheonji allegations, "It has not been discussed at the Supreme Council level," adding, "I am not aware of any relevant tips yet. We are closely monitoring the investigation by the joint investigation headquarters." (Yonhap News)