DP convention committee says primary schedule stands amid internal dispute

The Democratic Party of Korea's convention preparatory committee said Wednesday that the party's regional primary schedule would proceed as approved, amid internal controversy over the itinerary.

Rep. Lee Yeon-hee, a member of the preparatory committee, told reporters after the committee's second meeting at the National Assembly that the regional primary schedule would not change.

"We will need to see whether there are differences of opinion among the leadership," Lee said, adding that the committee was "pushing ahead as approved."

Earlier, the committee announced a regional primary circuit beginning in South Chungcheong, North Chungcheong, Daejeon and Sejong, then moving through Ulsan, Busan and South Gyeongsang Province, Jeju and Incheon, Gangwon Province, Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, North Jeolla Province, South Jeolla Province and Gwangju, and Gyeonggi Province and Seoul, before concluding in Daejeon.

The camp of former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok took issue with the Chungcheong region — the hometown of former party leader Jung Chung-rae — being designated as both the first and last stop on the primary circuit.