Kim Han-gil elected to head main opposition DP

By Park Sae-jin Posted : May 5, 2013, 17:04 Updated : May 5, 2013, 17:04
Kim Han-gil, a four-term lawmaker, was elected as new chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) which was previously known as the Democratic United Party, Saturday.

In a runoff, Kim defeated Rep. Lee Yong-sup who belongs to the party's mainstream group mostly consisting of supporters of late former President Roh Moo-hyun, by winning 61.72 percent of the votes cast.

Four new vice chairmen were elected during the DP's national convention at KINTEX in Ilsan,Gyeonggi Province. They were Shin Kyoung-min, Cho Kyoung-tae, Yang Seoung-jo and Woo Won-shik.

In a news conference following the election, new DP chairman Kim, 60, called on President Park Geun-hye to clarify her "Korean Peninsula trust-building process" policy to help ease tensions on the peninsula.

"The Park Geun-hye administration should finalize its policy on North Korea at the earliest possible date and make it public," he said.

Kim said there was no better way than dialogue to resolve inter-Korean issues.

Analysts said that during Saturday's national convention, more delegates supported Kim Han-gil, a non-mainstreamer in the party, than Lee Yong-sup, holding the mainstream group responsible for the party's defect in the presidential election last December.

During campaigns, Kim called for reform, asserting that the DP can survive only when it pushes for reform.
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