[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] Park Hong-geun, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea who had been mentioned as a candidate for the next floor leader election, announced on the 22nd that he would not run.
On the same day, Park stated on his Facebook, "I will not challenge the first floor leader election of the 21st National Assembly for the Democratic Party."
He said, "Although I have the intention to challenge the floor leader position in the 21st National Assembly based on my proven ability as the first floor chief deputy representative of the Moon Jae-in administration and my experience leading livelihood politics as the 'Euljiro Committee Chair (Euljiro Chairman)' of the party, I have concluded that this time is not the right moment."
He added, "As the youngest three-term lawmaker of the party, rather than immediately challenging the floor leader position, I will first contribute to the success of the Moon Jae-in administration by leading the party's stability, unity, and a working livelihood-focused National Assembly while respectfully serving capable senior lawmakers together with first- and second-term lawmakers."
Park emphasized, "As the Euljiro Chairman, I will always be at the forefront of livelihood sites and be a support for overcoming the crisis faced by small merchants, self-employed people, and workers who are struggling greatly due to COVID-19."
In this general election, Park ran for Seoul Jungnang-eul, defeated Yoon Sang-il of the United Future Party, succeeded in his third term, and rose to the ranks of senior lawmakers. He served as the floor chief deputy representative under Woo Won-shik's floor leadership in 2017 and belongs to the party's mainstream 86 group (those born in the 1960s who entered university in the 1980s), which had led to speculation about his candidacy for the floor leader election.
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