국민의힘 새대표에 김기현 "하나로 똘똘 뭉쳐 총선 압승"
South Korea's ruling People Power Party now has a new leader.
Lawmaker Kim Gi-hyeon, who was widely deemed President Yoon's favorite candidate will be tasked with guiding the PPP through next year's general elections.
Our National Assembly correspondent Han Seong-woo was on site at the party's national convention and files this report.
The People Power Party's leadership race has finally come to an end.
On Wednesday at the ruling party's national convention in Goyang City, National Assembly member Kim Gi-hyeon was announced the winner claiming a majority of some 460,000 votes registered party members cast either through their mobile devices or automated phone calls over a four-day period that ended on Tuesday.
The 55.1 percent turnout rate was a record high for the party.
The former mayor of Ulsan City, who had widely been considered the front-runner, won 52.93 percent, a majority, of the ballots, eliminating the scenario of a run-off vote that would've taken place on Friday and Saturday.
"Let's unite as one and sweep next year's general elections. The authority held by a party chairman is not a right, but rather a duty and responsibility."
In the end, runner-up Ahn Cheol-soo finished the race with 23.37 percent of the votes, failing to challenge Kim in a one-on-one debate which was scheduled to take place on Thursday had no candidate won a majority.
Meanwhile, the other two candidates, Chun Ha-ram, head of a regional chapter of the party in Jeollanam-do Province, and former prime minister Hwang Kyo-ahn each took 14.98 and 8.72 percent of the votes.
Four new members of the party's Supreme Council and one new young member of the Council, a position designated for those under 45, were elected on Wednesday as well.
Before the results were revealed, President Yoon Suk Yeol stopped by to encourage the ruling party and urge its members to come together to build a new nation for the Korean people.
"There is no winner or loser in our party's election. All of us, every member of the party, must move forward with only the Korean people in mind. The people always come first."
Kim will be expected to guide his party to victory in next year's general elections, where it's aiming to secure a majority in parliament and thus help move President Yoon's agenda forward.
The National Assembly is currently controlled by the Democratic Party of Korea, which has been using its majority power to force through bills and motions with the 169 out of 299 seats it holds.
"Kim, who's being branded a Yoon loyalist, was widely considered President Yoon's favorite among the candidates for party chairman, so it's safe to say that Wednesday's result was the ideal outcome for the nation's top office. Han Seong-woo, Arirang News."
#KimGihyeon #Chairman #국민의힘 #당대표 #Arirang_News
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2023-03-08, 21:00 (KST)
