With the abrupt resignation of Democratic Party of Korea floor leader Kim Byung-kee, the ruling party's election for the next floor leader has been moved up to Jan. of next year. However, because the successor's term is only about five months, there is a growing mood of caution about running among potential contenders who had been eyeing the June election.
On the 30th, the Democratic Party decided to hold a floor leader election on the 11th of next month to choose a successor to the former floor leader Kim. About four hours after Kim expressed an intent to resign, the party swiftly finalized the election schedule by convening an emergency supreme council meeting and a general meeting of lawmakers in succession.
Party leadership was said to have judged that it needed to minimize a leadership vacuum in the floor leadership ahead of handling key judiciary reform bills, including the second comprehensive special counsel bill and the bill to increase the number of Supreme Court justices, at the provisional National Assembly in Jan. of next year.
The 11th of next month is also the day for the by-election for supreme council member. Because party member votes account for 20% in the floor leader election, the decision also reflected a judgment to improve procedural efficiency by holding the party member vote at the same time as the supreme council by-election.
With the regular floor leader election originally scheduled for June of next year in mind, lawmakers Park Jeong, Baek Hye-ryeon, and Han Byung-do (three-term lawmakers, listed in Korean alphabetical order) were said to have been preparing to run behind the scenes. Park and Baek are classified as figures with relatively weak factional colors. However, Park actively supported the campaign of Rep. Park Chan-dae, who competed with party leader Jung Chung-rae at the Aug. 2 party convention, and Baek has been raising her profile with supporters by serving as chairperson of the party's "special committee on judicial reform" after the launch of the Jung leadership. Han is from the 586 activist generation, having served as president of the student council at Wonkwang University, and is considered pro-Moon Jae-in, having served as senior presidential secretary for political affairs in the Moon Jae-in administration. In addition, Secretary-General Cho Seung-rae and Supreme Council member Lee Un-ju are also being mentioned as potential candidates.
However, there is also a view that the post of floor leader this time is a "half-seat," which could lead to a shortage of candidates. The term is short, ending in June of next year, the remainder of former floor leader Kim's term, and the regular National Assembly and budget review—opportunities for a floor leader to build political presence—have already concluded.
The floor leader elected this time will not be able to take part in negotiations to form committees for the latter half of the 22nd National Assembly, making it difficult to exert practical influence over lawmakers in matters such as assigning standing committees. Although there is no rule in the party constitution or bylaws limiting consecutive terms, the lack of precedent for floor leader consecutive terms has also been cited as a factor that makes potential candidates hesitate.
Han, a lawmaker who has been preparing for the next floor leader election, said about whether to run, "I'm not sure yet. I'm considering it."
In this situation, some within the party are also voicing that the successor should be chosen by recommending a "caretaker floor leader." However, for now, the prevailing mood is to hold a competitive election.
That afternoon, the Democratic Party's three-term lawmakers held a closed-door meeting at the National Assembly to discuss pending issues, including the former floor leader Kim's resignation. All lawmakers mentioned as next contenders attended. After the meeting, Rep. Wi Seong-gon told reporters, "There was no discussion of a recommendation," adding, "There doesn't seem to be any particular reason to recommend."