Kim Byungki Elected as First Ruling Party Floor Leader under Lee Jaemyung Administration: "Will Serve as a Bridgehead for Lee Jaemyung's Success" (Update)

Promise to End Internal Strife and Restore Constitutional Order
Elected After Defeating Seo Youngkyo in Party Leadership Race
Plan to Make Party-Government Consultative Meetings More Substantive

Kim Byungki has been elected as the first floor leader of the ruling party under the Lee Jaemyung administration.

Kim, a three-term lawmaker and a key ally of Lee, defeated Seo Youngkyo in the Democratic Party's floor leader election held after the presidential election. As the first floor leader of the Lee Jaemyung administration, which is being launched without a transition committee, he will take the helm in steering key reform initiatives.

In his acceptance speech, Kim stated, "I will embrace all the good words and unexpected suggestions made by Representative Seo during the campaign, and will carry out my duties as the first floor leader of the ruling party with an overwhelming majority, without shame." He added, "The fact that party members and senior colleagues have elected me means they want me to serve as a bridgehead for the success of the Lee Jaemyung administration. I will pursue the end of internal strife and the restoration of constitutional order, as well as the reform of power institutions on one track; the recovery of people's livelihoods and economic growth on another track; and the rebuilding of the Republic of Korea on yet another track. Together with 5 million party members and 167 senior and fellow lawmakers, I will do my utmost to support the success of the Lee Jaemyung administration and dedicate everything to the reconstruction of the nation."

Yonhap News

He also pledged, "I promise to help each and every lawmaker grow as representatives of the people," and said, "I will lay the foundation for the recovery of livelihoods, economic growth, and national unity."

Previously, in his policy presentation, Kim stated regarding parliamentary operations, "I will make party-government consultative meetings by ministry more substantive," and added, "We will institutionalize monthly meetings between ministers, vice ministers, and lawmakers by standing committee." He also said, "Through a task force for implementing presidential campaign pledges, we will meticulously address the issues in each lawmaker's constituency." To support lawmakers' constituency activities, he said, "For the first to third weeks, we will designate National Assembly operation weeks for standing committee plenary sessions, and in the fourth week, we will focus on constituency activities to ensure thorough management of local districts."

To enhance communication between lawmakers and the floor leader, he promised, "We will establish a chief communication officer to strengthen communication, and hold regular meetings with lawmakers by seniority?first-term, second-term, third-term, and fourth-term or higher?to listen to their insights and advice."