Song Young-gil takes Room 818 — once Lee Jae Myung's office — as Han Dong-hoon settles near PPP allies

All eyes are on the newly elected lawmakers from the June 3 by-elections as they made their first appearance at the National Assembly on Friday, with attention focused on their political trajectories and the shifting balance of power within each party. On the ruling side, the contest for the next party leadership is coming into sharper relief, while on the opposition side, figures poised to anchor a conservative realignment are drawing growing scrutiny.

Within the Democratic Party of Korea, the return of Song Young-gil — the former party leader who won in Incheon's Yeonsu-gap district — stands out as the single biggest variable. Having shed his legal troubles ahead of the election, Song had already been mentioned as a leadership contender before the vote, and he has continued to make pointed remarks directed at the party leadership since his victory, steadily raising his profile.

His choice of office added a layer of symbolism: Song selected Room 818 of the lawmakers' office building, the same room previously used by President Lee Jae Myung. Lawmakers entering through by-elections typically inherit the office used by the previous representative from their district, but Song specifically requested Room 818.

Song plans to focus on military restructuring and the transfer of wartime operational control as key agenda items, with an eye toward serving on the National Defense Committee. Within the party, there is talk that he could expand his influence during the upcoming party convention while acting as a check on party leader Jung Chung-rae.

The arrival of former Cheong Wa Dae figures also stands out. Rep. Kim Nam-jun, known as "the president's voice," won in Incheon's Gyeyang-eul district, while Rep. Jeon Eun-su secured a seat in Asan-eul in South Chungcheong Province. Both are weighing committee assignments centered on local issues and industrial policy.

The return of Rep. Lee Gwang-jae, regarded as a core figure of the pro-Roh faction, is also drawing attention. Elected in Gyeonggi Province's Hanam-gap district, he is seen as a potential rallying point for non-mainstream factions including the pro-Roh and pro-Moon camps. The reelection of Rep. Kim Nam-kuk, along with the addition of policy-oriented figures such as Reps. Kim Eui-kyum, Kim Seong-beom and Im Mun-yeong, has broadened the Democratic Party's internal spectrum considerably.

On the opposition side, the moves of independent Rep. Han Dong-hoon are by far the most closely watched. After winning in Busan's Buk-gap district, Han immediately launched sharp criticism of the People Power Party leadership and put "rebuilding conservatism" at the center of his message. Calls for him to rejoin the PPP are spreading among pro-Han lawmakers within the party, and his eventual choice is widely seen as a potential turning point for the conservative camp's realignment.

Han was assigned Room 1022 in the lawmakers' office building, previously used by Democratic Party Rep. Jeon Yong-gi. Nearby are the offices of Reps. Kim Hyeong-dong (Room 1016), Bae Hyun-jin (Room 1015), Ko Dong-jin (Room 1014) and Park Jeong-hun (Room 1017).

The assignment places Han naturally near a cluster of pro-Han lawmakers, laying the groundwork for consolidating his faction. He is said to be considering the Legislation and Judiciary Committee as his first choice for a standing committee assignment.

Within the PPP, four-term veteran Rep. Yoo Eui-dong has publicly raised the need to restructure the party's leadership, making his presence felt. Since his election victory, he has used radio interviews and other platforms to argue for rebuilding conservatism through a leadership overhaul. Yoo is said to be hoping for seats on the Land and Infrastructure Committee and the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee.

Rep. Lee Jin-suk is expected to take a frontline role in challenging the government on the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee. Rep. Kim Tae-gyu is also expected to play a role on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and the science and broadcasting committee.

Rep. Yun Yong-geun campaigned on pushing a special economic support bill to link his constituency into a unified "Baekje Geumgang Belt" covering lifestyle, economic and cultural ties, and is said to be hoping for a seat on the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee. His background as a lawyer also puts the Legislation and Judiciary Committee in play.

Attention will now turn to what changes the newly elected lawmakers bring to the power dynamics and policy competition within each party. With the ruling camp's leadership race and the opposition's realignment efforts unfolding in tandem, the political landscape in the second half of the year could shift at a considerably faster pace.