Woo elected NPAD's floor leader
Rep. Woo Yoon-keun, left, raises a bouquet following his election as the new floor leader of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy at the National Assembly, Thursday. Right is Rep. Moon Hee-sang, the party’s interim leader. / Yonhap
By Jun Ji-hye
Three-term lawmaker Woo Yoon-keun was elected as new floor leader for the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) Thursday.
The opposition party voted for Woo to fill the position that was vacated by Rep. Park Young-sun.
Four-term lawmaker Lee Jong-kul and second-term Rhee Mok-hee competed with Woo for the post.
“I will definitely complete matters related to the special Sewol bill at the earliest possible date,” Woo said after his election was confirmed.
He stressed, “I will create a stronger opposition party.”
The Sewol bill is designed to establish a fact-finding committee tasked with unearthing the truth behind the tragic sinking of the ferry which killed more than 300 passengers in April. But it became the main cause for months of parliamentary deadlock due to the rival parties wrangling over details of the measure.
Former floor leader Park stepped down from her position on Oct. 2 after a prolonged controversy over her alleged failure to push the bill through the parliament.
Thursday’s election was seen as a competition between those who follow the legacy of the late liberal former President Roh Moo-hyun and centrists. Woo and Rhee belong to the former, while Lee is supported by middle-of-the-roaders.
Among the 130 lawmakers of the NPAD, about 60 to 70 members are regarded as Roh’s followers, while about 50 are seen as centrists.
The middle-of-the-roaders have been arguing that one of their members should assume the floor leader position to adjust the balance of power within the party, which has been dominated by Roh fans.
Mindful of those concerns, Woo said, “We now must stop factional disputes for the future of the party. We now have to seek harmony.”
Reps. Kim Han-gil and Ahn Cheol-soo, former co-chairmen who had not appeared at party events since the July 30 by-elections, also attended the election, reflecting the high interest in the vote. The two former leaders quit their chairmen positions in taking responsibility for the party’s crushing defeat in recent by-elections.
Three-term lawmaker Joo Seung-yong initially planned to run for floor leader, but he decided not to pursue the post on the day of the vote after his request to select a new leader through the four candidates’ negotiations rather than through an election was rejected.
The ruling Saenuri Party welcomed Woo’s election.
“He is a good-natured and rational person. We expect him to show a rational and philosophic attitude in bipartisan negotiations,” said Rep. Lee Wan-koo, Woo’s governing camp counterpart.
Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye