Song Young-gil, the former Democratic Party leader who won the by-election for the National Assembly seat in Yeonsu-A, Incheon, expressed disappointment over the party's loss in the Pyeongtaek-B parliamentary by-election, saying, "It was an election we couldn't have lost if our party's resources had been concentrated there, but we threw it away."
Appearing on SBS Radio's "Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show" on Wednesday, the former leader commented on the results of the June 3 local elections and parliamentary by-elections, saying, "An overwhelming victory was expected as a kind of midterm evaluation in the first year of President Lee Jae-myung's term, but it has become too much of a close fight." He added, "I am particularly heartbroken that we lost both Busan Buk-A and Pyeongtaek-B, races we had been most interested in."
He pointed out, "The primary process was too opaque and controversial," adding, "The Honam primary produced the same result as the general election, but in a situation where there was significant controversy over the legitimacy of the primary itself, the party's approach of pushing things through did not suit Honam."
"That is why I emphasized that we should leave the judgment to the residents in North Jeolla Province and concentrate our party's resources on Pyeongtaek," he added. "In the end, we lost an election we couldn't have lost."
Song said, "It is unusual for an independent candidate to win more than 40 percent of the vote in North Jeolla Province," and stressed, "The fact that an independent received this many votes in an election where the Democratic Party candidate's organization was fully mobilized means we must painfully accept the residents' warning and make improvements."
Song predicted that questions over the leadership's responsibility for the election results would surface at the party convention in August. "Since the party convention is coming up right away, the leadership will be evaluated," he said. "Through this election, I felt once again to the bone how important the party leadership is for the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration."
On the possibility of running for the next party leadership at the upcoming convention, he avoided giving a direct answer, saying, "My return to the National Assembly is more about supporting the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration than about my personal political program," and adding, "Forming a leadership that can work as a team with the government is a key factor in the government's success."
Song won the Yeonsu-A by-election with 51.73 percent of the vote. With this victory, he has earned the title of six-term lawmaker and the most senior legislator within the Democratic Party. With his successful return to the National Assembly, observers expect him to seek the next party leadership at the August convention.
