Jeong Jeom-sik elected People Power Party floor leader, seen as key figure in leadership race

Three-term lawmaker Jeong Jeom-sik has been elected floor leader of the People Power Party.

At a party caucus held at the National Assembly on Wednesday morning, Jeong secured 55 of 103 votes cast to claim victory. His runoff opponent, Rep. Kim Do-eup, received 48 votes.

In his acceptance remarks, Jeong called on the party to set aside the competition and unite. "We must all look to the people and the future of our party alone, and stand as one," he said. "There is no room among us for factions, division or confrontation." He added that there is "only one People Power Party that serves the will of the people," and said he would keep his promise never to be swayed by any particular faction or voice.

Earlier in the leadership debate, Jeong said his first priority would be to consolidate the views of lawmakers and set the party's direction. "I will pursue reform that meets the public's expectations," he said, adding that he would work to broaden the party's appeal as a Greater Seoul-focused and centrist party and "take responsibility for what we have caused."

Jeong also pledged to pool the strengths of all 110 lawmakers to prepare the path to victory in the general election. "I will stand at the center," he said. "I will become the rallying point for the party's resurgence and rise again as one, beyond division."

The newly elected floor leader is drawing particular attention for the pivotal role he is expected to play in the coming party leadership contest.

Calls from within and outside the party for party leader Jang Dong-hyeok to step down — already building after the local elections — are expected to intensify now that the floor leader election has taken place. The pressure on Jang to resign could grow considerably depending on how the new floor leader, as the party's top parliamentary figure, chooses to define his relationship with Jang.

Should Jang yield to mounting pressure and resign, the party would hold a national convention. During any leadership vacuum, the floor leader can serve as or appoint the chair of an emergency steering committee. That chair would have the authority to set the rules for the convention's primary election to choose the next party leader — potentially shaping the contest in ways that favor a particular candidate.

Wednesday's election went to a runoff after no candidate secured a majority in the first round, in which Rep. Seong Il-jong finished third and was eliminated.