Rep. Lee Jae-myung, former leader of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), won additional primaries in the North and South Chungcheong provinces Sunday as he seeks to secure a second term. During the primary in North Chungcheong Province, Lee won 88.9 percent of the combined ballots cast by registered party members, followed by former Interior Minister Kim Doo-gwan with 9.6 percent. Earlier in the day, Lee also secured 88.8 percent of the ballots cast by members in South Chungcheong Province. So far, the DP has held nine primaries out of its 15-leg race across the country, with Lee securing 90.4 percent of the accumulated votes. The party is scheduled to elect a new leader during a national convention on Aug. 18, based on the results of the primaries, a survey of the general public and online polls by party representatives. Lee is widely expected to win a second term and is considered a leading candidate for the liberal party in the next presidential election in 2027, though he is at the heart of s everal scandals, including a land development scandal in Seongnam, south of Seoul. Source: Yonhap News Agency