Three lawmakers vie for ruling party floor leader

Candidates in the floor leader race of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) pledge allegiance to the flag in a seminar at the National Assembly, Tuesday. From left are, Reps. Lee In-young, Noh Woong-rae and Kim Tae-nyeon. The new floor leader of the DPK is tasked with resolving the recent dissonance with the main opposition Liberty Korea Party created by the differences over fast-tracking reform bills and winning in the 2020 elections and supporting the third year of Moon Jae-in administration in a long term. / Yonhap

By Park Ji-won

Three lawmakers have thrown their hats into the race to become the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK)'s new floor leader, who will play a central role in mapping out campaign strategies for the general elections scheduled for April next year.

Reps. Lee In-young, Noh Woong-rae and Kim Tae-nyeon, all three-term lawmakers, have announced their bids for the party's floor leader election, scheduled to be held on May 8. The winner, during a one-year term, will be tasked with resolving the recent dissonance with the main opposition Liberty Korea Party created by the differences over fast-tracking reform bills. Most of all, the new floor leader should handle campaigns for the 2020 elections based on close cooperation with the Moon Jae-in administration entering into a third year.

Lee promised to become a floor leader that seeks change and unification within the party for victory in the 2020 general elections. He used to be one of the most famous student activists who had fought against the dictatorship regime in 1980s and is known to be supported by a group of so-called President Moon loyalists.

Noh, who announced his bid on Tuesday, pledged to pursue change and unity in the party to achieve a victory for the general elections. He vowed that he will make efforts to make a fair nomination system for the 2020 elections. He worked as a reporter at MBC and is also known to be supported by so-called non-Moon Jae-in loyalists.

Kim, who also announced his bid on Tuesday, pledged to take the key role in the policy decision-making process between the party, the government and the presidential office while establishing a cooperative system with them while also vowing to achieve a victory in the general elections. Kim has served as a chief policymaker until recently for two chairpersons in a row ― former Chairwoman Rep. Choo Mi-ae and current Chairman Rep. Lee Hae-chan. He is known as a key figure as a Moon Jae-in loyalist and being supported by its group.

Expectations are high that competition between Lee and Kim will be neck and neck as they have a broader support base inside the party.