Kim Min-seok, the new leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, on the 18th appointed four-term lawmaker Han Jeong-ae as party secretary-general. Three-term lawmaker Kwon Chil-seung will serve as policy committee chair. Following appointments the previous day of the chief of staff and senior spokesperson, this rounded out key party posts overseeing organization and policy.
Park Sung-joon, the Democratic Party senior spokesperson, said in a briefing on the 18th, "The basic principle and standard for appointments is ability. We prioritized ability above all," announcing the appointments.
Kim Nam-joon was appointed chair of the publicity committee, and Shin Jeong-hoon was appointed chair of the Chamjoeun Local Government Committee. The head of the newly formed Democratic Party TV Preparatory Task Force (TF) will be former publicity committee chair Han Ung-hyun. Party spokespersons will be lawmakers Cho Gye-won and Lee Yong-woo, and former lawmaker Shin Hyun-young.
On his first day in office on the 17th, leader Kim appointed lawmaker Kim Tae-seon as chief of staff and lawmaker Park Sung-joon as senior spokesperson. With appointments to the key posts of secretary-general and policy committee chair now complete, attention over the party leadership lineup is expected to shift to the appointed supreme council members.
There was also speculation that leader Kim could pursue a "balancing" approach by appointing some figures from the pro-parent-home (pro-Jeong Cheong-rae) faction. However, as of now, there are no pro-parent-home figures in the major party appointments.