What did Kim Min-seok promise after becoming leader of the Democratic Party of Korea?

Kim said the party would fully support the Lee Jae Myung administration and the president’s policy direction. He also said it would listen to public concerns and deliver those voices to Cheong Wa Dae and the government.

Why did Kim Min-seok’s election as DPK leader matter for relations with the presidential office?

His election increased expectations for closer cooperation between the ruling party and Cheong Wa Dae. The article says he is seen as someone who will coordinate more closely with the presidential office, while Jung Chung-rae had drawn concerns from some pro-Lee members.

How did presidential aide Kang Hoon-sik describe the party’s role in supporting Lee Jae Myung’s government?

Kang said the party is in the best position to hear public voices and urged the new leader to pass along any concerns the government may have missed. He said he hoped for a healthier and closer relationship between the party and the presidential office.

New ruling party leader vows to support Lee's policy agenda

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Summary

Ruling Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok met presidential aides at the National Assembly on Tuesday and vowed to support the Lee Jae Myung administration and strengthen cooperation with the presidential office. He said the party would fully back the government’s policy direction while listening to public concerns. The meeting came a day after Kim won the party leadership at its national convention, defeating Rep. Jung Chung-rae. Presidential aide Kang Hoon-sik also called for closer party-government coordination.

Key Facts

Kim Min-seok met presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik and senior presidential secretary for political affairs Hong Ihk-pyo at the National Assembly on Tuesday.
Kim was elected DPK leader at the party’s national convention the day before, defeating Rep. Jung Chung-rae.
Kang said the party is in the closest position to hear public voices and urged Kim to inform the presidential office of concerns the government may have overlooked.
The article says Kim’s election raised expectations for stronger cooperation between the ruling party and Cheong Wa Dae.
Some pro-Lee members had criticized Jung Chung-rae for focusing more on hard-line supporters than on coordination with the president on key issues.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 18, 2026 11:08 am KST

Kim Min-seok, left, new chief of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, embraces presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik during their meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

The new chief of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) met with presidential aides Tuesday and vowed to support the Lee Jae Myung administration and strengthen cooperation with the presidential office.

DPK leader Kim Min-seok made the remarks as he met with presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik and Hong Ihk-pyo, senior presidential secretary for political affairs, at the National Assembly.

The meeting came one day after former Prime Minister Kim was elected the DPK leader at the party's national convention, defeating Rep. Jung Chung-rae, who had been seeking a second consecutive term.

"We will fully support the government and the president's policy direction, while listening to the concerns of the public and delivering the voices to Cheong Wa Dae and the government," Kim said. "I have both expectations and a sense of responsibility that we will communicate as a united team without any barriers."

Kang echoed Kim's calls for close cooperation between the ruling party and the presidential office.

"The party is in the closest position to listen to the voices of the people," Kang said, urging the new leader to let the presidential office know about any concerns of the public that the government may have overlooked.

"I hope we can build a healthier and closer relationship between the party and the presidential office," he added.

Kim's election raised expectations for stronger cooperation between the ruling party and Cheong Wa Dae.

Former DPK leader Jung's leadership had prompted concerns among some pro-Lee members who argued that he placed greater emphasis on appealing to the party's hard-line supporters than on closely coordinating with the president on key issues.

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