Song Seok-jun Announces Candidacy for the First Time
Chu Kyung-ho, Seong Il-jong, Lee Jong-bae and Others Deliberating
Lee Cheol-gyu: "No One Except My Wife Has Mentioned Not Running"
In the race for the floor leader of the People Power Party, three-term lawmaker Song Seok-jun from the Seoul metropolitan area was the first to throw his hat in the ring. With the possibility of Lee Cheol-gyu running unopposed, which had even sparked talks of a unanimous nomination, now broken, other lawmakers such as Chu Kyung-ho, Sung Il-jong, and Lee Jong-bae, who had been mentioned as candidates, are also reportedly considering running.
On the 2nd, Lawmaker Song held a press conference at the National Assembly and announced his intention to run for floor leader. Song said, "Taking on the role of floor leader of the People Power Party at this time will be a difficult and challenging path," adding, "I believe that if it is a path I must take solely for the people, the country, and the party, I should actively step forward."
Song’s constituency, where he secured his third term in this general election, is Icheon City, Gyeonggi Province.
Aside from Song, no other lawmakers have officially declared their candidacy yet. However, it is known that most of the lawmakers who had been mentioned as potential candidates are considering running. While Chu Kyung-ho and others are mentioned as strong contenders, there are also opinions that it is not appropriate for another lawmaker from the Daegu region to take on the floor leader position again. A People Power Party lawmaker said, "Since the current floor leader is from the Daegu constituency, there is a sentiment that it would be somewhat inappropriate for another Daegu lawmaker to run immediately after."
Lee Cheol-gyu, a member of the People Power Party's Nomination Management Committee, is speaking at the first Nomination Management Committee meeting held on the 16th at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
Lawmakers Sung Il-jong and Lee Jong-bae, who have been preparing for the floor leader election, are also reportedly in final deliberations about whether to run.
Lee Cheol-gyu, who had been the subject of talks about a unanimous nomination, is facing internal opposition within the party. However, he hinted at the possibility of running. When meeting with reporters that day, Lee said, "There were people who asked me to run. But no one told me not to run or to withdraw except my wife at home," adding, "I don’t feel it’s worth responding, and once this is over, I will inform you about this process."
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