Democrats' Four-Way Race for Floor Leader... Hong Ik-pyo, Kim Du-kwan, Park Beom-gye, Park Kwang-on

Candidate Registration Closes on 19th, Drawing of Lots Completed
Before Deadline, Lee Won-wook Withdraws, Park Beom-gye Runs

The candidate lineup for the Democratic Party's floor leader election has been finalized. The primary will be held on the 28th with a four-way race among Representatives Hong Ik-pyo, Kim Du-kwan, Park Beom-gye, and Park Kwang-on.

On the afternoon of the 19th, the Democratic Party completed the candidate registration process for the floor leader election. After a lottery for candidate numbers, Hong Ik-pyo was assigned number 1, Kim Du-kwan number 2, Park Beom-gye number 3, and Park Kwang-on number 4.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, just before the 4 p.m. registration deadline, three-term Representative Lee Won-wook announced he would not run. Through Facebook, he stated, "I will stop my challenge for floor leader in the face of the Democratic Party's crisis," adding, "The conclusion is that strengthening the role of ‘the Democratic Party’s path’ and having principled voices are more important than my own floor leader bid."

Simultaneously with Lee’s sudden withdrawal, three-term Representative Park Beom-gye unexpectedly declared his candidacy, reshaping the race into a four-way contest again. At a press conference in the National Assembly, Park said, "I will fight against Yoon Seok-yeol’s prosecutorial dictatorship to protect democracy and the livelihood of the people," and added, "I will respond strongly and clearly."