Loyalist to DPK leader Lee elected as party's new floor leader
Rep. Park Chan-dae, a two-term lawmaker of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea who was reelected for another term, speaks in a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, April 21. Yonhap
The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) on Friday elected a lawmaker closely aligned with DP leader Lee Jae-myung as its new floor leader.
Rep. Park Chan-dae, a member of the DPK's Supreme Council who was reelected for a third term in the general elections, was named floor leader at a general meeting of party lawmakers, becoming the party's first floor leader under the current 22nd National Assembly.
Park was the sole candidate for the post.
A total of 170 out of 171 lawmakers attended the vote, with a majority of them casting their ballots for Park.
Announcing his run for the floor leader earlier, Park said his election will establish a "two-top system," with Chairman Lee best fit to push ahead with reforms.
In his address after the election, Park said he will seek to reintroduce bills that were vetoed by President Yoon Suk Yeol.
They include a proposal that calls for a special investigation into first lady Kim Keon Hee's alleged involvement in stock manipulation.
He also vowed to bring back the chairmanship of the house steering committee to the DPK, as well as the parliamentary legislation and judiciary committee — a key Assembly panel that has the power to approve bills before they are put to a plenary vote.
"We will part ways from the Democratic Party of the past that lost opportunities because of hesitation," Park said, stressing the DPK's priority lies in "reform."
A graduate of Seoul's Inha University, Park worked as an accountant before entering politics in 2014 and winning the general elections for the first time in 2016.
Park emerged as a key aide to Lee, serving as the chief spokesperson for Lee's campaign during the 2021 presidential primary.
Although considered a pro-Lee hardliner, he is also said to have strong communication skills and be fond of those not aligned with the DPK leader.
Park takes over from his predecessor, Rep. Hong Ihk-pyo. (Yonhap)