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Lee Jae-myung, a presidential primary candidate of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, greets supporters after the vote announcement during a joint campaign rally for the Yeongnam region, held at the Ulsan Exhibition and Convention Center in Ulju County, Ulsan, on April 20. / Source: Yonhap

Lee Jae-myung, a presidential primary candidate for the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, achieved a sweeping victory in the Yeongnam regional primary on April 20, securing over 90% of the vote. This follows his dominant performance in the Chungcheong primary the previous day, where he received 88.15% of the vote.

In the Yeongnam contest, held at the Ulsan Exhibition and Convention Center, Lee garnered 90.81% of the combined votes from party members and national delegates. With this latest result, his cumulative support across the two regional primaries stands at 89.56%, further cementing the perception of an inevitable Lee candidacy—popularly dubbed “Eo-Dae-Myung,” meaning “Lee Jae-myung is the inevitable nominee.”

Trailing far behind were Kim Kyung-soo with 5.93% and Kim Dong-yeon with 3.26%. Following the vote, Lee told reporters he would not draw premature conclusions from the results, saying, “I’ll continue doing my best.” Regarding the overwhelming support, he said, “It shows the high expectations party members have placed in me,” adding that he feels a “deep sense of responsibility.”

During the joint campaign event earlier in the day, Lee made a strong appeal to Yeongnam voters, highlighting the region’s historical role in Korea’s democratic movements. “At every pivotal moment of our nation's progress, Yeongnam has always stood at the center,” he said, citing the February 28 Daegu student protests, the March 15 Masan uprising, and the Busan-Masan Democracy Movement.

Lee also reiterated regional pledges such as building the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam (BUK) megacity and developing Arctic shipping routes. “I will realize the vision of the BUK megacity based on the balanced development dream of former presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in,” he declared.

Looking ahead, the Democratic Party will hold primaries in the Honam region (Gwangju) on April 26, followed by votes in the capital region, Gangwon, and Jeju on April 27. The final nominee will be confirmed on April 27 by combining the results of the party membership vote (50%) and a public opinion poll (50%).