Kim Deog-ryong Elected as GNP Floor Leader

A fifth-term lawmaker, Kim Deog-ryong, was elected as the new floor leader of the main opposition Grand National Party for the 17th National Assembly session.

The fifth-term lawmaker secured 66 votes (55.5 percent) out of a total of 119 ballots among the 121 elected GNP lawmakers to easily defeat rival, Kim Moon-soo, who received 39 votes, and Ahn Taek-soo, with 14 votes.

"I intend to have our party stage a righteous contest with the ruling camp for sound reform policies, but I will sternly deal with the Uri Party’s unilateral and self-righteous reform drives,’’ said Kim in his acceptance speech, and added, "I look for change in the ruling party on a consensual politics basis."

The new floor leader will begin negotiations for the launch of the 17th National Assembly, including deciding who will become the speaker and chairmen of each committee and the allocation of the standing committee, with his counterpart, Chun Jung-bae, the ruling Uri Party’s floor leader.

Yeon-Wook Jung jyw11@donga.com