On January 11, 2026, the Minjoo Party, South Korea’s largest opposition party, found itself at a pivotal crossroads. At the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, party members gathered for an election that would not only fill the vacancy left by its former floor leader, Kim Byung-gi, but also set the tone for the party’s future strategy, unity, and public trust. With four contenders vying for the influential position—Han Byung-do, Jin Seong-jun, Park Jeong, and Baek Hyeol-ryeol—the stakes were high, and the outcome closely watched both within and outside party ranks.
The contest was triggered by the abrupt resignation of Kim Byung-gi, who stepped down amid swirling allegations of illicit factional activities and other internal party scandals. According to The Fact, Kim’s departure cast a long shadow over the Minjoo Party, intensifying calls for reform and transparency. The new floor leader’s immediate challenge would be to restore order, address the fallout from ongoing nomination bribery allegations, and prepare the party for the fast-approaching June 3 local elections.
The election process itself reflected both the party’s desire for broad-based legitimacy and its complex internal dynamics. As Newsis reported, the winner would be determined by a weighted vote: 80% from the party’s sitting lawmakers and 20% from registered rights-holding party members. If no candidate secured a majority in the first round, a runoff would be held, with the final announcement scheduled for the evening of January 11.
The run-up to the vote was marked by a lively debate, held on January 8 at JTBC headquarters in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. All four candidates—Han Byung-do, Jin Seong-jun, Park Jeong, and Baek Hyeol-ryeol—presented their visions for the party’s future, touching on everything from legislative priorities to strategies for party unity. The debate underscored the diversity of experience among the candidates. Han and Jin, both of whom had previously served in senior roles during the Moon Jae-in administration, were often seen as pragmatic centrists, while Park and Baek were recognized for their grassroots connections and relatively neutral stance in the party’s ongoing factional disputes.
Factionalism has long been a defining feature of the Minjoo Party’s internal politics. The previous year had seen dramatic infighting, culminating in Kim Byung-gi’s resignation and a bruising contest between rival factions for party leadership. According to Issue Impact, Park Chan-dae, a prominent figure who had played a key role in blocking an illegal emergency martial law declaration the previous December, had himself lost a leadership bid and subsequently withdrawn from the public eye. With the local elections looming, however, he and other party veterans began to reemerge, signaling a renewed focus on unity and electoral strategy.
As Special Economy highlighted, the new floor leader would inherit a daunting to-do list. Chief among these was quelling the ongoing nomination bribery scandal, which threatened to erode public trust and derail the party’s electoral prospects. "If this issue isn’t put to rest quickly, it could seriously harm our chances in the upcoming local elections," one party insider told The Fact. The new leader would also be tasked with shepherding key legislative initiatives through a fractious National Assembly, including a second round of special prosecutorial bills and measures related to the controversial Unification Church investigation.
But the election wasn’t just about the floor leader. On the same day, the Minjoo Party also held a by-election for three vacant Supreme Council seats, left open by members departing to run in the local elections. The Supreme Council is a critical body within the party, and the outcome of these votes was expected to shift the balance of power among the party’s major factions. Notably, both the pro-Lee Jae-myung ("pro-Myung") and pro-Jeong Cheong-rae ("pro-Cheong") camps fielded candidates, setting the stage for a 2-to-2 contest that would help determine the party’s internal power dynamics going forward. Since the floor leader automatically becomes a Supreme Council member, the day’s results would fill four of the council’s nine seats, potentially reshaping the party’s leadership for months to come.
Throughout the day, party members and observers alike watched closely as votes were cast and tallied. The process included provisions for absentee lawmakers, who were allowed to vote a day early if they were on official business. The first round of voting was scheduled to conclude by 5:25 p.m., with a runoff to follow if no candidate achieved a majority. By 7 p.m., the party expected to have a new floor leader in place.
The outcome, as reported by The Fact, was seen as a crucial step in the Minjoo Party’s efforts to recover from a tumultuous period. With a short, four-month term (potentially extendable by party decision to accommodate the local election schedule), the new leader would have little time to make an impact. Yet the party’s hopes for stability, renewal, and electoral success rested squarely on the shoulders of whoever emerged victorious.
In the aftermath of the vote, the Minjoo Party’s focus would shift quickly to the June local elections. As Newsis and Special Economy both noted, the ability of the new leadership team to resolve internal disputes, restore public confidence, and present a united front would be critical. The party’s recent history of factional strife and scandal has left some supporters wary, but others see the leadership transition as a chance to turn the page and chart a new course.
Observers also pointed out that the Minjoo Party’s challenges go beyond internal politics. With the government pursuing controversial administrative integration policies in the Chungcheong and Honam regions, and opposition parties gearing up for fierce legislative battles, the new floor leader would need to demonstrate both diplomatic skill and political resolve. Navigating these challenges while maintaining party unity and preparing for the local elections would be no small feat.
Ultimately, the January 11 election represented more than just a routine leadership change. It was a test of the Minjoo Party’s capacity for renewal, its willingness to confront uncomfortable truths, and its ability to adapt in the face of adversity. Whether the new team can deliver on these promises remains to be seen, but for now, the party’s members and supporters are watching—and hoping for a fresh start.
