By Lee Tae-hoon
Staff reporter
Campaigning for the ruling party's leadership officially kicked off Friday with a joint press conference by 12 lawmakers and a senior party member vying to become the next head of the Grand National Party (GNP).
The GNP will pick a chairman and members of the party's top decision-making Supreme Council for a two-year term at a national convention, slated for July 14, after holding three televised debates and five forums in major cities nationwide.
"I pledge to get the party on an equal footing with the presidential office," Rep. Hong Joon-pyo said in the conference held at the National Assembly.