The Democratic Party of Korea candidates for party leader engaged in a fierce debate during their first televised debate, clashing over issues such as prosecution reform and responsibility for the failure of the local elections. Kim Min-seok criticized fellow candidate Jung Chung-rae for delaying the processing of a criminal procedure law amendment bill aimed at abolishing the prosecution's supplementary investigative powers during his tenure as party leader. Jung countered that the government had not submitted the bill. Regarding the results of the local elections, both Kim Min-seok and Song Young-gil held Jung Chung-rae responsible, but Jung argued back by claiming it was a "winning election." Additionally, Kim Min-seok criticized the dispersed voting strategy of pro-government senior members, while Jung Chung-rae countered by bringing up Kim's past defection from the party. On economic policies for people's livelihoods, all candidates agreed on the need to stabilize the stock market and address housing supply issues.
