Minju Narrows Down New Floor Leader Candidates to 'Pro-Myeong Faction'

Park Chandae Announces Candidacy... Kim Seonghwan and Seo Younggyo Confirm Non-Candidacy
Kim Minseok Likely to Join... Hardliners + Pro-Myeong Faction Key Factors

The leading candidates for the first floor leader of the 22nd National Assembly, who will lead the massive Democratic Party of Korea (Deobureo Minjudang) bloc and spearhead the formation of the floor, are being narrowed down to the 'pro-Lee Jae-myung faction.' As the hardline view that the party should take all 17 standing committee chair positions gains traction within the party, combat capability and pro-Lee Jae-myung colors are expected to be the key factors determining the outcome.

According to the Democratic Party on the 22nd, the agenda to form the election management committee for the floor leader election scheduled for the 24th is expected to be approved at the party affairs committee meeting. The election is anticipated to be held on the 3rd of next month. Assuming that the merger with the Democratic United Party is completed by then, the first floor leader of the 22nd National Assembly will have to lead approximately 170 lawmakers, including proportional representatives, and take charge of the floor formation. From a conventional perspective, the ability to embrace various factions would be considered an important quality, but this time, 'combat capability' is expected to be a more crucial factor.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 17th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Within the Democratic Party, the opinion that all 17 standing committee chair positions, including the Chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, should be secured is gaining internal support. Usually, the ruling party takes the Speaker of the National Assembly, and the second-largest party holds the Chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, which acts as the 'gatekeeper' of bills. However, it is judged that the party has gained enough public support to break this convention. The Democratic Party also monopolized all standing committee chair positions during the first half of the 21st National Assembly when it held 180 seats. The stronger the hardline stance becomes, the more likely it is that coordination with Representative Lee Jae-myung and negotiation skills with the government and ruling party will be conditions for the first-term floor leader.

Immediately after the general election, with 44 lawmakers elected for their third or fourth terms, a proliferation of candidates was expected, but the atmosphere is gradually consolidating. It is reported that Representative Lee Jae-myung also internally urged for coordination as reports continued that more than ten people were being mentioned as potential candidates.

As of the afternoon of the day, only one lawmaker, three-term Representative Park Chan-dae, has officially declared candidacy for floor leader. Representative Park held a press conference the day before and stated, "With a strong two-top system of Representative Lee Jae-myung and Floor Leader Park Chan-dae, we will create a reform and livelihood-focused National Assembly that fulfills the mission entrusted by the people." He has been classified as pro-Lee Jae-myung since working in the 'Lee Jae-myung camp' during the last presidential election. In the current leadership, he has worked closely with Representative Lee Jae-myung as a Supreme Council member.

Among the four-term lawmakers, Representative Kim Min-seok is considered a strong contender. Since he tasted defeat during the election of Floor Leader Hong Ik-pyo, a re-challenge is anticipated. It is known that during this general election, Representative Lee Jae-myung personally entrusted him as 'Head of the Campaign Situation Room,' indicating strong trust.

Kim Min-seok, the Policy Committee Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the party floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 8th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

In addition, Representative Kim Seong-hwan voluntarily announced his intention not to run. Representative Kim said the day before, "As a three-term lawmaker, it is an honor just to be mentioned as a candidate for floor leader," and added, "Although I tried until my second term, I will focus more on solving the 'climate crisis and inequality' issues that were lacking."

Representative Seo Young-kyo, who is about to reach the milestone of a four-term female lawmaker, was about to declare her candidacy on the day but suddenly decided not to run. It is said that during the Supreme Council meeting held in the morning, there was a question raised about whether one must resign from the Supreme Council position to run for floor leader. Representative Seo explained that she decided to give up running because if two people, including Representative Park Chan-dae, step down, the burden of a leadership vacuum until the party convention in August would increase.

Chief Secretary Kim Byung-gi and Kim Young-jin, Director of the Party Representative's Political Coordination Office and member of the '7-in group,' are also understood not to intend to run. Among those with less factional color, Representative Han Byung-do was mentioned, but since the pro-Lee Jae-myung faction has taken control of the floor, it seems difficult for him to gain support. A Democratic Party official said, "Since the election was a landslide victory centered on Representative Lee Jae-myung, the first-term floor leader position will inevitably be significantly influenced by his intentions."