Han Byung-doo, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, will resign from his post on Tuesday to run for a second term.
"Floor leader Han will hold a resignation press conference at 2 p.m. today," Kim Hyun-jung, the party's floor spokesperson, told reporters.
At a party affairs committee meeting the previous day, the Democratic Party approved the establishment of an election management committee to oversee the floor leader election on June 6 and the selection of the ruling party's candidates for the National Assembly speakership on June 13, for the second half of the 22nd National Assembly. Potential candidates for the next floor leader include Han along with lawmakers Park Jung, Baek Hye-ryun and Seo Young-kyo.
"Chun Jun-ho, senior deputy floor leader for operations, will serve as acting chief," Kim said. "The Democratic Party's position is to elect the speaker at the May 20 plenary session, while the People Power Party wants to hold it around June 5 after the local elections, and the two sides will negotiate." She added that the floor spokesperson system led by Kim along with Moon Geum-ju and Baek Seung-ah will also be maintained.
Kim also said, "Resignation letters from lawmakers selected as the Democratic Party's candidates for metropolitan government heads will be submitted collectively on the 29th." She added, "There are eight in total, which will reduce the current number of Democratic Party lawmakers from 160 to 152."
