Kim Min-seok, the newly elected leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, delivers his acceptance speech after being chosen as party leader at the third regular national party convention held at the Daejeon Convention Center on Monday. [Yonhap]
Kim Min-seok, the newly elected leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, delivers his acceptance speech after being chosen as party leader at the third regular national party convention held at the Daejeon Convention Center on Monday. [Yonhap]

Kim Min-seok, the newly elected leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said Monday that the relationship between the party and the presidential office would be one of "creative equality — fully cooperative and supportive of the president and the government at the center of state affairs."

Kim made the remarks in his acceptance speech at the party's national convention at the Daejeon Convention Center, after being elected party leader. "The party will work for the success of President Lee Jae Myung and the people's sovereignty government," he said.

"Starting today, new news from the Democratic Party goes out every day. Starting today, the Democratic Party runs from dawn every day. Starting today, the Democratic Party will be a party that takes responsibility for the lives of the people," he said.

He also pledged to work alongside his rivals from the leadership race. "I will run together with candidates Jung Chung-rae and Song Young-gil. I will open that space wide and bring them in with me," he said.

Kim acknowledged the challenges ahead. "We are facing difficult circumstances inside and outside the party. Even greater storms of internal and external crises will come," he said. "With the patience and wisdom accumulated over decades, I will break through these crises together with my comrades and the new leadership — without fail."

He also expressed gratitude toward his two rivals. "Candidate Jung Chung-rae, the apostle of one-member-one-vote, and candidate Song Young-gil, a prepared leader — I am grateful to both of you, who possess greater capabilities than I do," Kim said. "It was an honor. I learned a great deal."

Kim reflected on the significance of his election. "Forty years after I entered public life as a 20-year-old Seoul National University student council president demanding the truth about the May 18 uprising, I have become the leader of the Democratic Party — the only party of history in the Republic of Korea and the leading party of world-class K-democracy," he said. He called the moment "honorable" because of his love for the party, "historic" as the first choice made under one-member-one-vote sovereignty, "moving" as a successor to his lifelong mentor Kim Dae-jung, "proud" as a continuation of the path of lifelong comrade Lee Jae Myung, and "weighty" given the mission of a Korean golden age.

He also shared personal emotions. "I am moved thinking of my mother, who became a street fighter for her son and handed roses to riot police. I am moved that adviser Kwon No-gap, who will soon turn 100 — the same age as my father — stayed with me to the end. I am moved to be standing before friends who watched over 18 years in the wilderness. And I am moved by myself, for enduring through the long and difficult years," he said.

Kim laid out his vision for transforming the party. "I will change the Democratic Party. Our language, our policy, our attitude, our culture — all will evolve," he said. He presented what he called the "Democratic Party ABC Plan": Affordability, focusing on the everyday economic concerns of ordinary people; Broad, pursuing inclusive and expansive politics; and Competence, delivering capable governance.

He closed with a call to unity. "Fellow citizens, fellow party members — let us go to the golden age together," Kim said. "Let us go together, leaving no one behind, excluding no one, discriminating against no one."

Newly elected Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok receives the party flag from floor leader Han Byung-do after his election was confirmed at the third regular national party convention held at the Daejeon Convention Center on Monday. [Yonhap]
Newly elected Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok receives the party flag from floor leader Han Byung-do after his election was confirmed at the third regular national party convention held at the Daejeon Convention Center on Monday. [Yonhap]

Kim was elected the new leader of the ruling Democratic Party on Monday with a final vote share of 54.08 percent.

In the party member vote, Kim received 430,242 votes (55.94 percent), outpacing Jung Chung-rae, who received 338,809 votes (44.06 percent).

Kim also won decisively in the national delegate vote, receiving 9,541 votes (66.69 percent) against Jung's 4,765 votes (33.31 percent).

However, Jung edged out Kim in the public opinion polling component, winning 50.70 percent to Kim's 49.30 percent — a margin of 1.4 percentage points.

The public opinion poll was conducted Aug. 14 and 15 among 4,000 Democratic Party supporters and unaffiliated voters who are not party members.


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