Park Chan-dae, a Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker (3rd term, Incheon Yeonsu Gap), officially announced his candidacy for the party leader on 23rd, saying, "I will concentrate all of the Democratic Party's capabilities on the success of the Lee Jae-myung government". He promised to promote three major reforms (prosecutors, judiciary, and media), support the success of the Lee Jae-myung government as a 'one team' with the government and party, and lead next year's local elections to a resounding victory.
On that day, Park held a press conference for his candidacy on the 2nd floor 'Party Members Zone' of the Democratic Party's headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, stating, "I will challenge for the party leader of the ruling Democratic Party."
Park stated, "The government should emphasize integration and practicality, while the ruling party needs to focus on reform. Furthermore, the party and government should be a true one team that can synergistically adjust direction and speed." He said, "This is indeed the key to the success of the Lee Jae-myung government and the people's sovereign government."
He added, "Therefore, what is needed now in the ruling Democratic Party is a capable yet humble person, someone with firm beliefs yet flexible." He assessed, "There may be individuals with various virtues required of a party leader, but at least for now, I am the right person for the job."
He vowed, "I will concentrate all of the Democratic Party's capabilities on the success of the Lee Jae-myung government." He noted, "I will strengthen the party-government relationship to a one team level and will achieve results one by one through close and organic cooperation encompassing everything from blocking political offensives to legislation and policy implementation."
He also stated, "To achieve perfect resolution of civil unrest, I will support special investigations and prevent collusion disguised as integration." He added, "I will support special investigations as much as possible and will fight back with all my might against any attempts to undermine them. Through this, I will urgently isolate Yoon Suk-yeol and Kim Keon-hee from our community."
He stated that he would promote reforms in the judiciary, prosecution, and media. Park emphasized, "With effective reform, we will truly achieve expansion in the center," and promised, "We will achieve legislative results for all three major reforms in prosecution, judiciary, and media within this year."
He also promised to establish a party system to strengthen the rights of party members. Park stated, "The expansion of party members' rights is an inevitable direction. The value of one vote exercised by delegates and ordinary members will inevitably converge to 1:1," and said, "I will review plans to establish a mobile party platform that enables regular participation in decision-making by party members and will finalize the 'expansion plan of party members' rights' before next year's local elections."
He revealed his ambition to expand the party and lead next year's local elections to a resounding victory. Park stated, "I will create a party that wins even in difficult areas and achieve a resounding victory in the local elections," adding, "I will win the hearts of voters in difficult areas, including Yeongnam and Gangwon. I will also overcome the fixed notion that weak regions in the metropolitan area and Chungcheong region are difficult areas."
He remarked, "This means not simply expanding the Democratic Party, but overcoming the regionalism, a chronic disease in Korean politics," and added, "I will surely achieve the highest voting rate in areas previously classified as difficult, and aims to recover the majority in both local government and assembly in next year's local elections."
He revealed his close friendship with President Lee Jae-myung. Park said, "I was the chief spokesperson for Lee Jae-myung's campaign during the 2022 presidential election. From the time I met you then as 'Lee Jae-myung's mouth,' the crises faced by Lee Jae-myung, including the election loss, hunger strike, crisis of imprisonment, and terrorism, were also my crises as Park Chan-dae, and the challenges faced by Lee Jae-myung in his candidacy for the National Assembly and party leader were my challenges as well."
He added, "I take pride in leading a reform-oriented National Assembly as the floor leader, but there has always been a strong tree named Lee Jae-myung beside me." He continued, "Until now, Lee Jae-myung has stood by my side, but from now on, I am determined to stand by Lee Jae-myung."
He emphasized, "A verified one team will successfully accomplish the tasks assigned to the Lee Jae-myung government and the Democratic Party in the future."
Park was elected as the floor leader last year with overwhelming support from the pro-Lee Jae-myung faction and was essentially appointed in a ceremonial manner. After being elected as floor leader last year, he played a pivotal role in leading the Democratic Party with then-leader Lee Jae-myung during the martial law and impeachment period, acting as the core of the 'Myung-sim line'. When President Lee Jae-myung resigned from his position as party leader and ran for president, he took on the role of acting party leader, leading the June 3 presidential election.
Another contender for party leadership against Park is lawmaker Jeong Cheong-rae, who declared his candidacy on the 15th. Jeong was also elected as the top member in 2022 and synchronized with then-leader Lee Jae-myung. It is widely believed that the next party leader election within the party will be a genuine competition over who will inherit 'Myung-sim' (明心) values.
Lawmaker Jeong stated regarding Park's announcement of candidacy, "I hope we can create a party convention where the citizens and party members win through the most beautiful competition in party history."