First Words as Inaugurated: Hong Ik-pyo Calls for 'One Team' "Will Work to Resolve Division and Promote Unity" (Comprehensive)

"Party is going through a very difficult time"
"Doing our best to quickly organize and create a vision"

Hong Ik-pyo, a three-term lawmaker, was elected as the successor to former floor leader Park Kwang-on, who resigned taking responsibility for the passage of the arrest motion against Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. Upon his inauguration, Rep. Hong emphasized 'One Team' and called for party unity.

Hong Ik-pyo, the newly appointed floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is giving his acceptance speech at the party members' meeting for the floor leader by-election held at the National Assembly on the 26th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

On the 26th, newly appointed floor leader Hong delivered his victory speech after the floor leader election held at the National Assembly, saying, "I have taken on a difficult position in challenging times," and stressed the unity of the Democratic Party. He said, "We are now one team. The Democratic Party will become one team and create the strength and momentum to win next year's general election together with Leader Lee Jae-myung," adding, "I will listen carefully to each and every opinion."

He continued, "As I mentioned, decisions will be made based on principles and standards, grounded in democracy and diversity, and the process will be managed transparently, fairly, and competently," and said, "I will be the first to take responsibility for that."

He also expressed discomfort over holding the floor leader election while Leader Lee Jae-myung, who is not in good health due to fasting, was undergoing the warrant hearing, saying, "I hope for the dismissal of the warrant and will consult with each member regarding the subsequent situation to handle it well."

In this floor leader election, Kim Min-seok, Nam In-soon, Hong Ik-pyo, and Woo Won-shik declared their candidacies, but Woo withdrew in the morning, urging for candidate unification, narrowing the race to three candidates. The remaining candidates proceeded without unification; Kim Min-seok was eliminated in the first round, and in the runoff between Nam and Hong, Hong received the most votes and became the floor leader.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Newly appointed floor leader Hong is noted for his reformist tendencies, such as declaring his candidacy for the challenging district of Seocho-eul in next year's general election, while being regarded as having a weak factional affiliation. During the Roh Moo-hyun administration in 2007, he served as policy advisor to Minister of Unification Lee Jae-jung, entered politics by winning the Seoul Seongdong-eul seat in the 19th general election, and successfully secured three consecutive terms in the 20th and 21st general elections. During the Moon Jae-in administration, he served as head of the Democratic Research Institute, the party's think tank, earning the nickname 'policy expert.' He now faces the task of resolving the severe internal strife that intensified after the passage of the arrest motion against Leader Lee.

At a meeting with reporters on the day, newly appointed floor leader Hong said, "The party is going through a very difficult time," and added, "I will do my best to reorganize the party quickly and create a vision for the nation and society."

Regarding Leader Lee's warrant hearing, he said, "We are confident that the warrant will be dismissed, but depending on the outcome, we are prepared to fight with extraordinary determination," and added, "If dismissed, we will consult with the leader regarding party operations and prepare for next year's election smoothly centered on Leader Lee." A members' meeting is also planned for the morning of the 27th to respond according to the warrant hearing results.

When asked by reporters about solutions to resolve party turmoil, newly appointed floor leader Hong emphasized, "I said from the outset after being elected that I will act as one team," and stressed, "I will work to resolve divisions within the Democratic Party and promote unity."

Regarding cooperation with the People Power Party, he said, "We will cooperate where cooperation is needed during the regular session of the National Assembly and clearly oppose where opposition is necessary," and added, "I will meet and consult with floor leader Yoon Jae-ok, our partner." However, he expressed skepticism about the attitude of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration and the president toward the National Assembly, saying, "I am very doubtful whether this government has respect and minimum courtesy toward the National Assembly. We strongly demand a change in the government's attitude."