Park Jeong of Ruling Party Runs for New Floor Leader By-election: "I Will Serve as a Five-Month Interim Reliever"

Park: "I Will Hand Over to the Second-Term Leadership After Fulfilling My Mission"
Former Chair of Budget and Accounts, Environment and Labor Committees... Known as a 'China Expert'

Park Jeong, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, has announced his candidacy for the ruling party's floor leader position, which became vacant following the resignation of former floor leader Kim Byungki. Park declared, "I will serve as a five-month interim reliever," expressing his intention not to seek reappointment.

On January 2, at the National Assembly's press center in Yeouido, Park held a press conference to announce his bid in the by-election for floor leader. He stated, "My role is to restore order to the party, swiftly end the internal strife, secure victory in the local elections, and lay a solid foundation for the people's livelihood and the economy." He added, "After fulfilling this mission, I will hand over the mound to the second-term leadership of the ruling party without any personal ambition."

The term for this floor leader position is approximately four months, corresponding to the remainder of Kim's tenure. Park drew a clear line regarding the possibility of reappointment, emphasizing his commitment to fulfilling his duties during this term. Speaking with reporters after the press conference, he said, "There has never been a case where a floor leader has served consecutive terms so far," stressing, "I think that's only natural."

Park pledged to immediately pursue the extension of the special prosecutor for the insurrection case and the prompt initiation of a special prosecutor for the Unification Church. He also promised to launch a policy planning task force for the local elections within the parliamentary group, and to activate an economic task force (TF) led by the chief policy officer to restore the livelihood economy.

Regarding the special prosecutor, Park stated, "There is no future without ending the insurrection. Politics cannot stand upright without properly establishing the separation of church and state." He continued, "I fully recognize the gravity of this matter, and if negotiations fail, I will ensure that it is resolved within January, even if it requires applying pressure."

When asked by reporters about the possibility of bipartisan cooperation, Park responded, "Is it right to filibuster livelihood bills?" He clarified, "I am saying that I will carefully prioritize and negotiate." He added, "How can we restore parliamentary politics without negotiation? (However,) if that is not possible, I will push forward boldly."

Park emphasized, "Listening and communication are synonymous with Park Jeong, so I do not need to make a separate promise." He continued, "Instead, I will fight well. Some worry that my smooth legislative activities might make me overly compromising with the opposition, but I will prove those concerns unfounded."

Park is a three-term lawmaker (20th, 21st, and 22nd National Assembly) who served as the chairperson of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts in the first half of the 22nd National Assembly and as chairperson of the Environment and Labor Committee in the latter half of the 21st National Assembly. During the 21st presidential election, he served as the head of the central campaign headquarters for then-candidate President Lee Jaemyung. Known as an expert on China, Park was also dispatched as a special envoy to China on behalf of the Republic of Korea after the inauguration of the Lee Jaemyung administration.