Democratic Party to Hold Floor Leader Election on the 2nd of Next Month... 'Turning Point' in Internal Party Conflict

Postponement Expected from the 28th of This Month
Opposition Factions Park Kwang-on & Lee Won-wook VS Pro-Myeong Faction Hong Ik-pyo
Kim Du-gwan, Yoon Kwan-seok, and Ahn Kyu-baek Also Weighing Candidacy

The Democratic Party's floor leader election is expected to be held on the 2nd of next month. Since this election will select the floor commander who will engage in policy battles with the ruling party until next year's general election, and due to the latent internal conflicts surrounding party leader Lee Jae-myung's judicial risks, the outcome is drawing attention.

Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Won-wook appeared on YTN Radio's 'Park Ji-hoon's News King' on the 12th and mentioned that the floor leader election would be held in "early May." Initially, within the Democratic Party, the floor leader election was considered for the 28th of this month to conclude the April extraordinary session of the National Assembly, but it has been postponed to early next month. The party is discussing holding the floor leader election on the 2nd of next month.

According to the Democratic Party's party rules, the floor leader must be elected in the second week of May. However, considering the replacement of the People Power Party's floor leader on the 7th and the schedule of the May extraordinary session, the party has been considering shortening the term. Democratic Party spokesperson Park Sung-jun said, "I understand that coordination is currently underway," adding, "The originally mentioned date of the 28th of this month is not feasible, and there is a possibility of postponement. The decision will be made in a floor meeting with floor leader Park Hong-geun."

In this floor leader election, three-term lawmakers Park Kwang-on and Hong Ik-pyo are considered strong candidates. Lee Won-wook, a non-Lee faction member, is also mentioned as a dark horse.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the expanded executive meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 12th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Lawmakers Park and Lee belong to the non-Lee faction, while Hong is supported by the pro-Lee faction. On the 5th, Park stated on KBS Radio's Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs, "I will play the role of communication that our party lacks, balance, and act as a complement." He is emphasizing unity, integration, and strengthening communication. Hong is a member of The Better Future (Deo Mirae), the largest lawmaker group in the Democratic Party, and also comes from the Democratic Peace People's Alliance (Minpyeongryeon). On the 10th, Hong mentioned on BBS Radio's 'Jeon Young-shin's Morning Journal,' "Since the current leader is Lee, preparing well for next year's general election together with him is the immediate task."

On the same day on the radio, Lee said, "The leadership composed solely of the so-called pro-Lee faction is not acceptable, and the leadership, including Lee, is aware of this," adding, "The floor leader election will mark the conclusion of forming such a unified leadership." Lawmakers Kim Doo-kwan, Ahn Kyu-baek, and Yoon Kwan-seok have already declared their candidacies or are considering running.