Only 3 register for LKP leadership election

Contenders of the leadership race of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) hold hands in a party meeting at the National Assembly, Wednesday. From left are, Rep. Kim Jin-tae, former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, Park Kwan-yong, the chief of the party's election preparation panel and former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon. / Yonhap

By Park Ji-won

Only three candidates have registered for the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) leadership election.

The three ― former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Rep. Kim Jin-tae ― had their first meeting, Wednesday, pledging a fair competition ahead of the party's convention scheduled for Feb. 27.

“I ran in the election to stop the tyranny of this government. I will try my best with contenders to make this national convention contribute something for our unification and future,” Hwang said.

“I will do my best to compete with other contenders fairly and fiercely to re-establish the party's vision and philosophy,” Oh said.

“I hope we could fully discuss the issues of security, economy and society, respectively on each day so that candidates can show their abilities and thoughts.”

Kim said, “As we all threw our hats into the ring, I hope we could compete with each other as much as possible. My contender is not LKP candidates but the Moon Jae-in administration.”

Earlier, six out of eight contenders, except for Hwang and Kim, pledged not to run in the race unless the party accepts their request to postpone the national convention on Feb. 27, as it clashes with a second summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump in Hanoi.

The party's election preparation panel reviewed a possible delay, but decided not to accept their request and hold the convention as scheduled. Oh reversed his earlier pledge to join the race afterwards.

At the upcoming national convention, the LKP will elect its leader to fill the gap of former leader Hong Joon-pyo, who resigned from the post to take responsibility over a large defeat in the June local elections, and choose its Supreme Council members.