DP Faces Turning Point as Ex-PM Kim Seeks Top Post

In a decisive move, former prime minister Kim Min‑seok declared his run for the Democratic Party’s presidency on Monday in Gwangju, a city long regarded as a liberal bastion. Kim emphasized that the DP “has missed key battles” and needs a “big change” to regain voter confidence. He criticized the party’s inability to translate public endorsement into electoral success over the past twelve months. Citing the recent local elections, Kim noted that while the DP won a majority of mayoral and governor posts, it fell short in major urban battles such as Seoul. The ex‑premier, a close confidant of President Lee Jae‑myung, resigned from his prime‑ministerial role in July 2025 and now aims to rebuild the party’s winning formula. He will compete against lawmakers Jung Chu‑rae and former party chief Song Young‑gil for the leadership.