Jeong Jeom-sig, a lawmaker of the main opposition People Power Party, speaks after being elected as the party's new floor leader during a general meeting of its lawmakers at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday. Joint Press Corps
The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) elected three-term lawmaker Jeong Jeom-sig as its new floor leader Wednesday, days after his predecessor resigned following the party's crushing defeat in last week's local elections.
Rep. Jeong, who represents a constituency in the conservative stronghold of South Gyeongsang Province, defeated four-term lawmaker Kim Do-eup and three-term Rep. Sung Il-jong by winning 55 out of 103 votes in a runoff against Kim.
Jeong was initially expected to clinch a victory in the first round by securing a majority but ultimately won the race by a narrow margin of seven votes after the runoff.
The floor leader election was held after Rep. Song Eon-seog stepped down Friday, just 10 days before his term was set to end.
