Outgoing PM gains ground as next ruling party leader with president’s support

“Prime Minister Kim Min-seok is gaining momentum as a potential next leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), with President Lee Jae Myung publicly praising his leadership and bringing him along to a recent official event. The development marks a stark contrast with incumbent DPK Chairman Jung Chung-rae, who is seeking reelection but has come under criticism for the party's losses in several key races in last week's local elections. Kim was not invited to attend the aforementioned event. Kim formally declared his candidacy for the DPK leadership on Sunday, writing on social media that after serving as prime minister throughout the president’s first year in office, his next mission is "to build a strong and capable DPK that can overcome entrenched resistance and realize the spirit of the times represented by the Lee Jae Myung administration." “Politics is about realizing the spirit of the times, and firmly supporting the Lee administration's vision is both the wish of the people and the mission of the DPK’s one million members,” Kim wrote. In a televised press conferen

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