Seoul: The ruling Democratic Party (DP) was set to announce the top three candidates to advance to the main race for party leadership ahead of the party's national convention next month.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the selection process will shortlist three candidates from a pool of five based on votes from the party's central committee members, dues-paying members, and public opinion poll results. Former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, former DP leader Jung Chung-rae, Reps. Song Young-gil and Ko Min-jung, and former Gangjin councilmember Kim Bo-mi are the candidates vying for the positions.

The DP aims to finalize eight out of fourteen candidates for the party's supreme council. The national convention, scheduled for August 17, will elect a new leader responsible for overseeing candidate nominations for the April 2028 parliamentary elections.

Jung Chung-rae, a four-term lawmaker, is anticipated to secure a spot among the top three candidates despite facing criticism for focusing on his own supporters. His main competitor, Kim Min-seok, has pledged to support President Lee Jae Myung's administration and implement significant party reforms.

Kim emphasized the need for change following the party's performance in the recent local elections, where they failed to win key battlegrounds despite securing 12 out of 16 mayoral and gubernatorial seats.