Ruling party to pick new leader at national convention in August - The Korea Times

Rep. Jo Seoung-lae, secretary general of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, holds a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

The ruling Democratic Party or Korea (DPK) plans to hold a national convention in August to elect a new leader, officials said Monday, following its landslide victory in last week's local elections.

The DPK leadership reached a consensus to hold the convention on Aug. 17, Rep. Jo Seoung-lae, secretary general of the party, told reporters at the National Assembly after a meeting of the party's supreme council.

The new leader will replace Rep. Jung Chung-rae, a four-term lawmaker who has come under growing pressure within the party after the DPK lost key battlegrounds in the recent elections, including the Seoul mayoral race and a parliamentary by-election in Busan, despite winning 12 of the 16 mayoral and gubernatorial seats.

Rep. Jung is widely expected to seek another term.