Democratic Party Floor Leader Sole Candidate Park Chandae: "Reform First, Second, and Third"

Park Chan-dae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea who ran unopposed for the floor leader position, declared his candidacy, promising to create a National Assembly focused on people’s livelihood and reform.

Park Chan-dae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is greeting fellow lawmakers at the 1st floor leader election winners' meeting of the 22nd National Assembly Democratic Party of Korea held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 3rd. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

On the morning of the 3rd, at the elected members’ general meeting held at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul, Park said, "The 22nd National Assembly must heed the public’s will expressed in the general election and create a National Assembly dedicated to people’s livelihood and reform." He added, "It is the Democratic Party’s assigned task to swiftly address pressing livelihood issues and important reform agendas, and to ensure that the people feel a sense of political efficacy." Furthermore, he stated, "If given the opportunity to serve as floor leader, I will approach the role with the determination that reform comes first, second, and third."

Park interpreted the public sentiment from this general election as a judgment against the Yoon Seok-yeol administration. He said, "For the first time in constitutional history, the people gave the main opposition party an outright majority, which clearly signifies a judgment against the Yoon administration." He continued, "It was a warning against the incompetence, irresponsibility, lack of measures, and immorality the Yoon administration has shown over the past two years. Democracy is being destroyed, national dignity is declining, and tyranny continues." He added, "Another public sentiment was an SOS distress signal toward the Democratic Party," explaining, "The people, facing a survival crisis worse than during the foreign exchange crisis, are calling for rescue because they cannot endure any longer."

He also emphasized that the intensity of the struggle against the Yoon Seok-yeol administration would be increased. Park said, "We will immediately reintroduce the bills vetoed by President Yoon at the start of the session," and "We will also begin negotiations to secure additional supplementary budgets for livelihood recovery support funds." He further explained, "To ensure responsible National Assembly operations, we will secure the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and the Steering Committee for the Democratic Party’s share," and "We will accelerate prosecutorial reform and media reform." The elected members attending the general meeting applauded Park’s remarks.

Finally, Park said, "I, Park Chan-dae, will deliver a National Assembly that practices reform and a Democratic Party that takes action," and "I will firmly stand for what I support and oppose what I oppose, and I will accomplish this with determination."

Park, classified as part of the pro-Lee Jae-myung faction, ran unopposed in the floor leader election to select the next floor commander. He must receive a majority of approval votes to be confirmed as floor leader.