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Rep. Park Chan-dae elected as new DP floor leader

Published: 03 May. 2024, 17:15

LEE SOO-JUNG
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Rep. Park Chan-dae gives an acceptance speech after his election as the new floor leader of the Democratic Party in Seoul on Friday. [YONHAP]

The liberal Democratic Party (DP) on Friday elected a lawmaker closely aligned with party leader Lee Jae-myung as its new floor leader.

Rep. Park Chan-dae, a member of the DP's Supreme Council who was reelected for a third term in the April 10 general election, was named floor leader at a general meeting of party lawmakers, which will make him its first floor leader in the upcoming 22nd National Assembly.

Park, representing Incheon’s Yeonsu-A electoral district, was the sole candidate for the post. The exact number of votes he won to claim a majority has not yet been disclosed.

Even before he was announced as the next floor leader, Park said he will push "the bills that President Yoon Suk Yeol vetoed during the 21st National Assembly."

His remarks appear to forecast hard-line policies against the current administration, which is aligned with the conservative People Power Party.

In announcing his run for floor leader earlier, Park said his election will establish a "two-top system," with party leader Lee best fit to push ahead with reforms, including a special investigation into First Lady Kim Keon Hee's alleged involvement in stock manipulation.

He also vowed to restore the DP's control of the parliamentary judiciary and steering committees — key organs possessing the authority to approve bills before putting them to a plenary vote.

"We will part ways with the DP of the past that lost opportunities because of hesitation," Park said, stressing that the party's priority lies in "reform."

A graduate of Inha University, Park worked as an accountant before entering politics in 2014, winning in the general election for the first time in 2016.

He emerged as a key aide to the party chief, serving as the main spokesperson for Lee's campaign during the 2021 presidential primary.

Although considered a pro-Lee hard-liner, he is also considered a strong communicator with a fondness for those not aligned with the DP leader.

Park is taking over for Rep. Hong Ihk-pyo, who lost his seat in the April 10 election.

yonhap