"Kim Byungki Resigns: Democratic Party to Hold Supreme Council and Floor Leader By-elections Together on January 11"

Jin Sunmi Appointed as Chair of Floor Leader By-election Committee, Hong Giwon as Vice Chair
Moon Jinseok to Serve as Acting Floor Leader According to Party Rules

With the resignation of Kim Byungki, Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, the party leadership has decided to hold a by-election for the floor leader to coincide with the by-election for the Supreme Council member scheduled for January 11 next year.

Yonhap News

On December 30 at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Park Soo-hyun, Chief Spokesperson of the Democratic Party, met with reporters after a closed Supreme Council meeting and said, "The date for the floor leader by-election has been set for January 11, to match the date of the Supreme Council by-election." The party member vote for the floor leader will be conducted over three days, from January 9 to 11, and the results will be announced together with the Supreme Council by-election results on January 11. The newly elected floor leader will lead the Democratic Party for the remaining five months of Kim's term.

The Floor Leader By-election Management Committee will be chaired by Assemblywoman Jin Sunmi, with Assemblyman Hong Giwon as vice chair, and Assembly members Jeong Eulho, Lee Giheon, and Lee Juhui as committee members.

Chief Spokesperson Park stated, "Party leader Jeong Cheongrae, in the closed Supreme Council meeting, expressed high appreciation for Floor Leader Kim Byungki's achievements in handling reform legislation and delivering many results, but also noted that since a personal matter had arisen, Kim made the decision to resign. He conveyed his hope that the situation would be managed and overcome well going forward."

Until the new floor leader is elected, according to the party's constitution and regulations, Moon Jinseok, Senior Deputy Floor Leader for Party Operations, will serve as acting floor leader.

The previous day, it was reported that Kang Sunwoo, a Democratic Party lawmaker, had discussed countermeasures with then-floor leader Kim, who was a secretary of the nomination management committee at the time, regarding allegations that a Seoul City Council candidate received money during the 8th local elections in 2022. In response, Party Leader Jeong instructed the Ethics Inspection Team to conduct a fact-finding investigation into Assemblywoman Kang.

When asked by reporters whether Assemblyman Kim Byungki would also be subject to the ethics inspection, Chief Spokesperson Park replied, "I believe he will naturally be included," but added, "However, the ethics inspection of Floor Leader Kim is a separate matter."