Ruling Party Floor Leader Candidates: "We Will Build a Unified Party-Government-Presidential Office Team to Support the Success of the Lee Jaemyung Administration"

Parliamentary General Meeting Held to Elect New Floor Leader
Emphasis on Overcoming Discord Between Party, Government, and Presidential Office

On the day of the vote, January 11, the four candidates for the new floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea emphasized their commitment to mediating differences among the party, the government, and the presidential office, and leading the upcoming local elections to victory. Their remarks were seen as a response to ongoing concerns in political circles about discord between the party and the presidential office, as well as the so-called “Myungcheong War,” and were intended to highlight their ability to resolve such issues.

Assemblyman Han Byungdo, during his policy speech at the parliamentary general meeting for the floor leader election held at the National Assembly that afternoon, stated, “Within this month, I will ensure that the three parties-the presidential office, the government, and the party-convene around each standing committee to swiftly finalize the selection of major legislative tasks to be addressed over the next four months.” He expressed confidence in his ability to serve as a floor leader skilled in party-government-presidential office coordination.

Regarding concerns about discord between the party and the presidential office, Han said, “Differences of opinion among the party, government, and presidential office must be minimized, and only agreed-upon conclusions should be announced. This is the ruling party’s capability to handle affairs, and it is also a way to fundamentally block attacks from the opposition.” He added, “This was what I did best during my time as the chief deputy floor leader, and I am confident I can continue to do it well in the future.”

Han, who served as the head of strategic planning for the Democratic Party leadership during the 22nd general election, referenced his experience of achieving a landslide victory, saying, “Winning the upcoming local elections is an absolute imperative for the success of the Lee Jaemyung administration and for the constitutional order and democracy of the Republic of Korea. I will dedicate all my experience to this goal.”

Candidates running for the Democratic Party of Korea's floor leader by-election are taking a commemorative photo at the 2nd floor leader election members' general meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 11th. From the left, candidates Byeongdo Han, Seongjun Jin, Jung Park, and Hyeryun Baek. Photo by Yonhap News

Assemblywoman Baek Hyeryun explained her intention to actively support the Lee Jaemyung administration’s decentralization policy, known as the “Five Axes and Three Special Zones,” and to prevent discord by institutionalizing a permanent working-level consultative body among the party, government, and presidential office. Baek stated, “I will create a system of seamless communication to ensure that no differences arise between the party and the government. As a united team, the party, government, and presidential office will drive victory in the local elections and the success of the Lee Jaemyung administration.” She became emotional as she added, “I want to see the Lee Jaemyung administration succeed. I want to work.”

Baek cited her experience of introducing electronic legislation during the fast-track incident and leading her colleagues to the Constitutional Court during the impeachment trial of former President Yoon Sukyeol, emphasizing, “Resolving internal crises within the party must be based on principles, not compromise.”

She also alluded to internal crises such as allegations of nomination bribery, pledging, “I will apply a strict principle of zero tolerance to any wrongdoing within the party. I will implement this immediately starting with local election nominations, ensuring clean nominations and a decisive victory in the local elections.”

Assemblyman Jin Sungjun stated, “I believe our party is facing a serious crisis. The fact that the floor leader resigned mid-term is itself an emergency. More seriously, our party’s sense of ethics has hit rock bottom, and there is discord both within the party and throughout its ranks.”

He continued, “The public is asking us: Can the Democratic Party reliably support President Lee Jaemyung’s administration? Can we ensure the success of the Lee Jaemyung administration with this level of ethical awareness, policy capability, and political acumen? If we cannot answer these questions, we will not regain the trust of the people.”

Jin pledged that, upon being elected floor leader, he would immediately pursue three key initiatives during his remaining four-month term: ▲ Prompt formation of the National Assembly’s Special Ethics Committee, strengthening ethics education for public officials, and establishing a public ethics reporting center to enhance the party’s ethical and moral standards; ▲ Fostering a culture of debate by holding debate-based general meetings and building a structure for policy coordination between the party and the government through each policy coordination committee; ▲ Addressing the legacies of past coups and passing legislation for people’s livelihoods. He made it clear that he would not seek re-election, stating, “I will carry out these three tasks thoroughly during the remaining four months and step down cleanly. The next floor leader should handle the latter half of the term.”

Assemblyman Park Jung said, “It is unprecedented for the floor leader of the ruling party’s second term to step down after just six months, and the by-election for the Supreme Council has become a battleground, split evenly between two sides, rather than a competition.” He continued, “Self-interest aimed at increasing the privileges of the ruling party, when combined, has created a crisis for the Democratic Party.” Park added, “That is why I am setting aside my own interests to pursue victory for the Democratic Party and success for the Lee Jaemyung administration. With the power of communication and listening, I, Park Jung, will work with warmth and integrity.”

Park emphasized his experience as evidence that he is the right person for the new floor leader position. “When Seoul, Incheon, Busan, and Chungcheong all turned red, I protected Gyeonggi Province from the reckless actions of Yoon Sukyeol as the provincial party chair. I also had the determination to create and pass, for the first time in constitutional history, a National Assembly budget cut proposal against the Yoon Sukyeol administration’s arbitrary budget,” he said. “With this level of capability, experience, and determination, I believe the Democratic Party can trust me to lead in this time of crisis.”

Park concluded, “I do not believe I can lead the large ruling Democratic Party alone. We need the policies of Jin Sungjun, the reforms of Baek Hyeryun, the strategies of Han Byungdo, and the wisdom of all. If I become the new floor leader, I will invite all three as advisors and fully embrace their wisdom and opinions.”