Former finance minister elected DP floor leader

The main opposition Democratic Party elected Friday a former finance minister as the new floor leader to take charge of in-party and inter-party communication.

Second-term lawmaker and economic expert, Rep. Kim Jin-pyo beat his rivals, Rep. Kang Bong-kyun and Rep. Lew Seon-ho, to be named the party’s floor leader.

He is to succeed Rep. Park Jie-won and lead the party for the next year.

Kim was named vice prime minister and finance minister in 2003 under the late Roh Moo-hyun administration and worked as senior presidential policy secretary for former President Kim Dae-jung in 2002.

In last year’s local elections, however, he lost to Rep. Rhyu Si-min of the minority People’s Participation Party in a pre-election race and thus yielded the sole opposition candidacy in the Gyeonggi governor election.

“I intend to be a floor leader who truly looks after the people,” Kim said shortly after being elected.

“I also hope to contribute to the DP’s victory in next year’s elections.”

The general and presidential elections are scheduled for next April and November, respectively.

The DP is currently stepping up its preparations for next year’s big races after exceeding expectations in this April’s by-elections.

Kim also pledged to work humbly for the party, as he won with 36 votes out of 82, beating Kang narrowly with a single vote.

The newly-elected floor leader is widely recognized as close aide to former party leader Chung Sye-kyun.

But he has also had close relationships with other figures within the party such as incumbent party leader Sohn Hak-kyu, especially during last month’s by-election campaign.

The Suwon-based lawmaker also drew votes from Seoul lawmakers.

“To seize control in the metropolitan area in next year’s elections, the DP has to elect a Seoul or Gyeonggi-based person as its new floor leader,” Kim said in his candidacy speech earlier.

Rep. Hwang Woo-yea of the ruling Grand National Party, who was elected last week as the party’s new floor leader, was elected in Incheon, whereas other influential DP figures are mostly from the Jeolla provinces.

Some, however, pointed out that his thinking once again brought about regional factions, which parties have recently strived to eradicate.

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)