Jin Sung-joon, a policy expert in the Democratic Party of Korea, announced a bid in the floor leader by-election.
On the 31st at the National Assembly press room, Jin held a news conference and said, "It is truly urgent to stabilize the grave situation caused by the floor leader's midterm resignation and to keep the party steady," adding, "I decided to run because I believe my political experience will be useful."
Jin is a leading policy expert within the Democratic Party, having served as the party's strategy and planning chief, senior deputy floor leader, and policy committee chair. In particular, Jin said he would serve only the remainder of former floor leader Kim Byung-kee's term and would not seek another term.
The remainder of the former floor leader's term runs through May. In fact, several lawmakers considered candidates for the next floor leader have been hesitant to declare because they may be limited to serving out the remaining term and unable to seek another.
Jin said, "Stabilizing the floor operations is the top task for the floor leader who will be chosen in the by-election right now," and added, "There are many excellent lawmakers who have long prepared to be floor leader."
He pledged to stabilize the floor to win the local elections during the remaining term through May and to work on clearing out insurrectionist forces, restoring the livelihood economy, and ensuring unity between the party and the government and between the party and the presidential office.