Kim Min-seok speaks at the national convention of South Korea's ruling Democratic Party of Korea in Daejeon, South Korea, on Aug. 17, 2026. Former South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok was elected leader of South Korea's ruling Democratic Party of Korea at the party's national convention held in Daejeon on Monday. (NEWSIS/Handout via Xinhua)
SEOUL, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Former South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok was elected leader of South Korea's ruling Democratic Party of Korea at the party's national convention held in Daejeon on Monday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim faces the task of maintaining the government's momentum while mending divisions within the party that intensified during the leadership race.
Via a video address at the convention, S. Korean President Lee Jae Myung said the Democratic Party is strongest when it stands united, adding that the party must once again come together closely around the new leadership.
The party leader will serve a two-year term and have significant influence over the nomination of candidates for the 2028 parliamentary elections. The leadership is also expected to play an important role in the Lee Jae Myung administration's governance and the ruling party's internal power dynamics, with its influence potentially extending to the realignment of forces within the ruling camp ahead of the next presidential election.
Born in Seoul in 1964, Kim has been elected to the National Assembly four times and served as South Korea's 49th prime minister from July 2025 to June 2026. ■
Kim Min-seok waves the flag of South Korea's ruling Democratic Party of Korea at the party's national convention in Daejeon, South Korea, on Aug. 17, 2026. Former South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok was elected leader of South Korea's ruling Democratic Party of Korea at the party's national convention held in Daejeon on Monday. (NEWSIS/Handout via Xinhua)
Kim Min-seok (3rd L) poses for a photo at the national convention of South Korea's ruling Democratic Party of Korea, in Daejeon, South Korea, on Aug. 17, 2026. Former South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok was elected leader of South Korea's ruling Democratic Party of Korea at the party's national convention held in Daejeon on Monday. (NEWSIS/Handout via Xinhua)
Kim Min-seok (4th R) gestures with other candidates during the national convention of South Korea's ruling Democratic Party of Korea, in Daejeon, South Korea, on Aug. 17, 2026. Former South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok was elected leader of South Korea's ruling Democratic Party of Korea at the party's national convention held in Daejeon on Monday. (NEWSIS/Handout via Xinhua)
