The Democratic Party of Korea formed a preparatory committee ahead of the Aug. 17 convention to elect new leadership. Lawmaker Lee Hak-young, who served as National Assembly vice speaker in the first half of the 22nd term, was named head of the preparatory committee, and lawmaker So Byung-hoon was appointed head of the election commission.
Kang Jun-hyun, the Democratic Party senior spokesperson, met with reporters at the National Assembly on the 26th after the Supreme Council meeting and said, "At today's Supreme Council, the formation of the convention preparatory committee was approved," adding, "We appointed lawmaker Lee Hak-young as the preparatory committee chair and lawmaker So Byung-hoon as the election commission chair."
Kang, the senior spokesperson, added, "There are places where regional reorganization is taking place by city and province parties, so it is necessary to form an election commission," and explained, "The agenda for establishing and forming city and province party election commissions was also approved."
Regarding the appointment of the secretary-general, Kang said, "Following former leader Jung Chung-rae's resignation and the resignation of Jo Seoung-lae, a political appointee and former secretary-general, lawmaker Yoo Dong-soo was appointed." Yoo will manage party operations as secretary-general until the convention.
The Democratic Party plans to move in earnest to form the convention preparatory committee and the election commission. Lawmakers Lee Hak-young and So Byung-hoon will lead personnel selections, and each committee is expected to be organized with around 20 members. The final roster is expected to be confirmed at next week's party affairs committee.