Former PM holds narrow lead in ruling party leadership race, outcome likely to come down to Seoul and southwest

Prime Minister Rep. Kim Min-seok is leading by a narrow margin in the ruling Democratic Party leadership race, indicating that the final outcome is likely to hinge on Seoul and the Jeolla provinces. After the first three of six regional rounds of voting among eligible party members, Kim was leading with 76,844 votes, or 45.42 percent. Former party chair Rep. Jung Chung-rae was next with 75,380 votes, or 44.56 percent, leaving a gap of just 1,464 votes, or 0.86 percentage points. Six-term lawmak