Seoul: The Democratic Party (DP) has announced that it will choose its presidential candidate through a process that combines votes from dues-paying members with a public poll, as confirmed by its election preparation committee.

According to Yonhap News Agency, this selection method marks a significant change, as it will allow party members aged 16 to 18 to vote for the first time. This inclusion follows a 2022 amendment to the Political Parties Act, which lowered the minimum age for party membership from 18 to 16.

The primaries are set to take place across four regions: Chungcheong, Gyeongsang, Jeolla, and the greater Seoul area. However, the specific dates for these primaries have not yet been announced. The public poll will involve a survey of 1 million people conducted by two survey companies.

The Democratic Party’s election committee plans to finalize the decision after a full party vote on Monday and an online vote by its central committee on Tuesday.