GNP Elects Hong Sa-duk Floor Leader and Lee Kang-doo Chief Policymaker

The main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) completed its line-up of new leadership Monday, electing Hong Sa-duk as party floor leader and Lee Kang-doo its chief policymaker.

The GNP is now planning to implement a follow-up appointment of positions for general secretary and spokesperson to complete its assignments within days.

A fifth-term lawmaker, Hong won with 82 votes over Ahn Taik-soo, who had 61, in a run-off election where 145 of 153 opposition lawmakers participated.

Lee Kang-too, 66, a former chief policymaker, holds the key post once again, gaining 91 votes of the 241. The third-term lawmaker is an economic expert and served as chairman of the Assembly’s National Policy Committee.

The newly elected GNP floor leader also said that he aims to continue the party`s hard-line policy of passing a new independent counsel law to look into the so-called cash-for-summit scandal. "The truth should be brought to light," he was reported to have said.

On the budget supplement bill, new chief policy maker Lee said that “there is considerable controversy over the bill. Through comprehensive discussions with other lawmakers, we will come up with a budget plan that will allow for the nation’s full economic recovery.”

Yeon-Wook Jung jyw11@donga.com