By Kim Jung-yoon
Rep. Kang Gi-jung won the third regional race for the main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP)’s leadership in Gwangju and South Jeolla Province, Tuesday.
Kang, a lawmaker of Gwangju, garnered 488 votes from among 988 DUP members, who each cast two votes in the primary.
Another lawmaker-elect Kim Han-gil came second with 437 votes, followed by Rep. Lee Hae-chan with 371. Kim and Lee won in the first and the second regional primaries held in Ulsan and Busan, respectively.
In the previous round in Busan, Lee clinched victory with 353 votes from 615 DUP members followed by Kim with 204 of the total ballots cast. In the first round in Ulsan, Kim defeated Lee, who ranked fourth.
Lee, who is leading the faction loyal to former late President Roh Moo-hyun, maintained his position as a frontrunner in the leadership race with a combined 772 votes from the three rounds, ahead of Kim and Kang who have 744 and 673, respectively.
The unexpected outcome of the primary created another surprising dynamic as a rivalry between Lee and Kim was expected in the third round of the primary.
Kang’s emergence suggests that it will be difficult to predict who will become the DUP’s next chairperson.
Lee’s win in the leadership race will likely boost support for Rep. Moon Jae-in, the DUP’s presidential hopeful, who belongs to the same faction as Lee. Moon served as chief aide to Roh.
Lee’s defeat came as internal backlash mounted over the backdoor alliance with newly-elected floor leader Rep. Park Jie-won, in an alleged attempt to share the two top posts. Lee denied such speculation.
The DUP’s series of regional leadership races will continue in Daegu, Daejeon, Jeju, Sejong City, North Chungcheong Province, North Jeolla Province and Gangwon Province.
Based on the voting outcome, the DUP will pick its new leadership on June 9, when the party’s national convention is set to take place in Seoul.