Candidates emerge for Saenuri Party floor leader election

By Kim Hyo-jin

Rep. Lee Joo-young of the ruling Saenuri Party speaks during a news conference at the party’s headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, Sunday, in declaring his bid to become its floor leader. / Yonhap

Rep. Lee Ju-young declared his candidacy for floor leader of the Saenuri Party, Sunday, in a ballot to be held next Monday.

He is the first confirmed candidate since President Park Geun-hye tapped the party’s current floor leader Rep. Lee Wan-goo as her new prime minister, Friday.

“I would become a leader promoting communication and reconciliation within the party while preventing possible internal conflicts,” said Lee during a press conference held at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul.

“I will support the government and help the party win the 2016 general election together with Chairman Rep. Kim Moo-sung.”

He also stressed his suitability for the post, saying, “I led the victorious general and presidential elections, serving as a policy chief and a head of the campaign planning committee.”

He has previously run twice for party floor leader, in 2012 and 2013. He only lost by eight votes in the last floor leader election, proving that he is a strong candidate.

Rep. Yoo Seong-min also intends to declare his candidacy today after actively expanding his support base since last summer toward that end.

The impending election of a new floor leader is drawing much attention because the role entails backing President Park to carry out reforms in the third year of her presidential term.

Whoever secures the post will need to press for reforms of the pension for public servants, legislation for revitalizing the economy, and revising electoral constituencies.

The result of the election will also likely affect the Saenuri Party’s internal power structure.

Rep. Lee has had a close relationship with the pro-Park support base since he resigned his post as maritime minister last December. He has been credited for his dedication during recovery efforts conducted at the site where the Sewol ferry sank, and President Park herself expressed her appreciation of this on the day of his resignation.

Rep. Yoo, once a supporter of Park, has long grown apart from the president and is now supported by a faction outside the mainstream that includes party chairman Kim Moo-sung. Although he has tried to gain popularity among pro-Park supporters, it remains to be seen whether he can win votes from rival factions in the ballot.

Whether pro-Park Rep. Hong Moon-jong will run for the post could be a deciding factor. There is a speculation that if Rep. Hong teams up with Rep. Lee and competes for the position of policy chief instead, the pro-Park body will gain momentum in the run-up to the election.