On January 11, 2026, the Democratic Party of South Korea embarked on a pivotal journey to elect its new parliamentary floor leader and fill key leadership roles, setting the stage for its strategy ahead of the June National Assembly and local elections. The atmosphere in Seoul’s Yeouido district was thick with anticipation as four heavyweight lawmakers—Han Byung-do, Jin Seong-jun, Park Jeong, and Baek Gyeol-ryeol, all three-term National Assembly members—vied for the influential role of floor leader. The contest, while short in duration, is expected to have far-reaching implications for the party’s direction and internal power balance in the coming months.
According to Newsis and corroborated by News1, this by-election was triggered by the resignation of the previous floor leader, Kim Byung-ki, who stepped down amid swirling allegations of misconduct. The new floor leader will serve an interim four-month term, but the possibility of an extension looms, especially as the party gears up for the all-important June 3 local elections. Under the Democratic Party’s rules, the selection process blends 80% votes from sitting lawmakers with 20% from rank-and-file party members, ensuring a mix of grassroots input and parliamentary consensus.
The voting process itself was a carefully orchestrated affair. Online voting for rights-holders and party members was open until 4 PM on January 11, after which the party’s parliamentary group convened at the National Assembly for speeches and the final tally. Should no candidate secure a majority in the first round, a runoff between the top two contenders was scheduled for later that evening—a scenario many insiders considered likely, given the competitive and unpredictable field.
“The party is focusing on selecting candidates who can unify the party and win the general election,” reported Money Today, capturing the prevailing sentiment among Democratic Party members. Unity is more than a campaign slogan this time around; it’s a necessity, as the party faces a delicate balancing act between competing factions and the need to present a cohesive front against its rivals in the upcoming elections.
Each candidate brought distinct strengths and support bases to the race. Han Byung-do, representing the Jeonbuk region, was seen by many as the front-runner, enjoying broad support for his perceived balance and stability. His campaign received a notable boost when Chun Jun-ho, a close confidant of President Lee Jae-myung, appeared alongside him at his candidacy announcement—an event that some interpreted as a sign of the president’s tacit endorsement. With his roots outside the Seoul metropolitan area, Han was also expected to consolidate votes from the Honam region, a traditional Democratic Party stronghold.
Baek Gyeol-ryeol, the only female candidate and a member of the Health and Welfare Committee, leaned on her committee colleagues and the party’s women lawmakers for support. Her long-standing ambition for the floor leader role and organizational acumen made her a formidable challenger, especially among those seeking a fresh perspective in party leadership. Park Jeong and Jin Seong-jun, both with substantial legislative experience, rounded out the field, each emphasizing their commitment to party unity and electoral success.
The party’s televised debate, held on January 7 at JTBC’s studios in Mapo-gu, Seoul, provided a rare public glimpse into the candidates’ platforms and priorities. All four contenders, as reported by KBC and News1, presented a united front in calling for “decisive action” in response to the scandal that felled their predecessor. They also pledged to support the Lee Jae-myung administration’s legislative agenda and pursue a “second comprehensive special counsel” as a shared policy goal—signaling both a break from the past and a commitment to reform.
Yet, the leadership contest was not without its controversies. One candidate was disqualified for violating party rules, a stark reminder of the party’s ongoing struggle to ensure transparency and accountability in its internal affairs. Moreover, as Money Today noted, the party had not yet announced concrete measures to prevent vote rigging or manipulation, leaving some members and observers uneasy about the integrity of the process.
Alongside the floor leader election, the Democratic Party also held a by-election for three vacant Supreme Council seats, vacated by members stepping down to run in the local elections. The contest quickly shaped up as a showdown between two main factions: the pro-Lee Jae-myung (pro-Myung) bloc, represented by Kang Deuk-gu and Lee Geon-tae, and the pro-Jeong Cheong-rae (pro-Cheong) bloc, represented by Moon Jeong-bok and Lee Seong-yoon. As News1 explained, the outcome would determine the internal balance of power within the party’s leadership, with four out of seven Supreme Council seats being decided in a single day.
Political analysts, as cited by Money Today, suggested that the results could either reinforce or reconfigure the current leadership structure under party chairman Jeong Cheong-rae. The contest for the Supreme Council, while perhaps less visible to the public, was closely watched by insiders for its potential to shift alliances and influence key policy decisions.
Despite the short, four-month term for the new floor leader, the role carries immense weight. The incoming leader will be responsible for steering the party through a turbulent period marked by the fallout from the previous leader’s resignation, the looming June elections, and a host of pressing legislative challenges—including the handling of the controversial Unification Church issue and the push for a second special counsel investigation. “It’s a position that demands strong leadership more than ever,” observed Newsis, reflecting the urgency felt throughout the party.
Interestingly, all four floor leader candidates were considered broadly aligned with the pro-Myung camp, but none were seen as staunch loyalists, resulting in what one outlet described as a “foggy race” with no clear favorites. This lack of entrenched factionalism, at least among the leading candidates, was viewed by some as a positive sign for party unity—though others cautioned that the real test would come in the aftermath, as the winners sought to mend fences and rally the party for the battles ahead.
As the day progressed, party members, lawmakers, and observers waited anxiously for the results, knowing that the choices made on January 11 would reverberate well beyond the party’s headquarters. The Democratic Party’s ability to present a united, credible alternative in the June elections—and perhaps its very viability as a governing force—hinged on the success of this leadership transition. For now, all eyes remained fixed on Yeouido, where the outcome of a single day’s voting could shape the party’s fortunes for months, if not years, to come.
With the dust settling and new leaders poised to take the helm, the Democratic Party faces a defining moment, one that will test its resilience, adaptability, and commitment to democratic principles in the face of adversity.
