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Democratic Party leadership contenders Jung Chung-rae and Park Chan-dae, along with Supreme Council candidate Hwang Myung-sun (center), sign a fair election pledge at the National Assembly on July 15. From left: acting party leader Kim Byung-ki, Jung, Park, Hwang, and party election committee chief Kim Jung-ho. / Photo by Song Ui-joo

The competition for the Democratic Party leadership is heating up ahead of the first televised debate, set to begin on July 16. Leading contenders Rep. Jung Chung-rae and Rep. Park Chan-dae are taking starkly different approaches, each vowing sweeping political reforms.

Jung has consistently called for the “swift and bold abolition” of the prosecution service, while Park unveiled a ten-point reform platform on July 15, including the introduction of a parliamentary recall system and the revival of local party chapters.

“We will establish an effective mechanism where voters can strip lawmakers of their seats,” Park said at a press briefing at the National Assembly. “Reviving local party branches will breathe new life into regional politics.” By presenting a concrete plan for systemic reform, Park aims to distinguish himself from his rivals and emphasize stability and team unity.

Jung, meanwhile, continues to double down on urgency. “I advised President Lee Jae-myung to complete all reforms within the first three months of his presidency,” he said during a July 14 appearance on the YouTube program Kim Eo-jun’s News Factory. The following day, he told Yonhap News TV, “I promise the public will hear the news of the prosecution's abolition during their Chuseok holiday travels.”

In his media appearances, Jung has likened himself to King Taejong of the Joseon Dynasty and described himself as an “infighter,” suited for wartime leadership. “This is a war against rebellion,” he declared. “While Rep. Park is a good man, I may not be as nice—but I’m the right leader for this fight.”

Park, for his part, emphasized team leadership at a party forum in Daegu on July 14. “Rather than being a star player, I want to play the role of coach who brings the team to victory,” he said.

Both candidates, however, are making efforts to appeal to pro-Lee Jae-myung party members by highlighting their ties to the president—what Korean media often refers to as “Myeongsim,” or Lee’s support base.

According to the Democratic Party’s Central Election Commission, three rounds of televised debates will be held: on SBS’s News Briefing (July 16), JTBC’s Oh Dae-young Live (July 23), and MBC’s 100-Minute Debate (July 29).

The party’s leadership election will begin with the Chungcheong region (Daejeon, South Chungcheong, Sejong, and North Chungcheong) on July 19, followed by the Yeongnam region (Busan, Ulsan, South Gyeongsang, Daegu, and North Gyeongsang) on July 20, the Honam region (Gwangju, South and North Jeolla) on July 26, and the Seoul metropolitan area (Gyeonggi and Incheon) on July 27. The final event will be held in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on August 2, concluding with the announcement of the new leadership.

The sole candidate for the party's supreme council, Rep. Hwang Myung-sun, will face a yes-or-no vote.