South Korean Ruling Party Chief Resigns, Expected To Seek Re-Election

SEOUL, June 24 (Bernama-Yonhap) -- South Korean lawmaker Jung Chung-rae of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) resigned as chairman of the party on Wednesday in a move widely seen as a step towards seeking re-election at the party's upcoming national convention, Yonhap News Agency reported.

"I spent many sleepless nights looking back on myself and my political life for the past few days," Jung said during a meeting of the party's supreme council at the National Assembly.

"I am stepping down as party leader today."

Jung stressed that he had devoted himself to supporting President Lee Jae Myung's administration throughout his term and to ensuring that the ruling party, the government and the presidential office worked as a united team.

"Although I never had a single day of peace due to resistance from within and outside the party, I carried out my duties without complaint," he said.

Jung's remarks came amid criticism from some pro-Lee party members who argue that he is leading the party in a way that caters to his hard-line supporters rather than working in tandem with Lee on key issues.

The convention is expected to shape up as a three-way race between Jung and two other political heavyweights: Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, a key political ally of Lee, and Song Young-gil, a former DP leader.

Song reportedly told the president that he plans to join the race and floated the possibility of unifying his candidacy with Kim, DP lawmaker Park Jie-won said during an interview with radio broadcaster CBS.

With Jung's resignation, DP floor leader Han Byung-do will serve as acting party leader until the convention, set for Aug. 17.

-- BERNAMA-YONHAP