Yoon Ho-joong vs Park Wan-joo in Party Floor Leader Election... 'Pro-Moon vs Anti-Pro-Moon' Showdown

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] The Democratic Party of Korea has begun the candidate registration process to elect the next floor leader. The race will be a head-to-head contest between four-term lawmaker Yoon Ho-jung and three-term lawmaker Park Wan-joo. Initially, it was expected to be a three-way race including lawmaker Ahn Kyu-baek, but Ahn announced his withdrawal on the day of candidate registration. Practically, the election is expected to be a contest between the 'Pro-Moon Jae-in (Chinmun)' faction and the 'Anti-Pro-Moon' faction.

On the morning of the 12th, lawmakers Park Wan-joo and Yoon Ho-jung completed their registration as candidates for the next floor leader and declared their candidacies.

Park, who is somewhat detached from the party’s 'Pro-Moon' forces, drew attention with remarks seemingly aimed at the non-mainstream faction. Park said, "If we do not reform the culture where raising one’s voice becomes a target of criticism, if we do not change now, everyone will perish."

Park Wan-joo, a member of the Democratic Party, is registering as a candidate for the next floor leader at the National Assembly on the 12th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

He added, "There is a golden time for change and innovation. There are no sacred cows," emphasizing, "We must restore the proud values of the Democratic Party and become the second-term floor leadership that wins the public’s trust."

Park, whose constituency is Cheonan in Chungnam, was active in the late Kim Geun-tae’s Democratic Peace People's Alliance (Minpyeongryeon) and belongs to the '86 Group.' He has served as the party’s floor deputy leader and as a Supreme Council member.

On the other hand, Yoon Ho-jung, a core figure of the Pro-Moon faction, has been considered a strong candidate for the next floor leader until recently. He served as secretary-general during former leader Lee Hae-chan’s tenure and has held positions such as chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, which has helped him build extensive connections with lawmakers. However, the opinion that the Pro-Moon faction should take responsibility for the defeat in the April 7 by-elections is a burden for him.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

This floor leader election will be held through public candidate debates on the 13th and 15th, followed by a vote among party lawmakers on the 16th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.