Han Byung-do, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party who stepped down as floor leader to run in the party’s next floor leader election set for May 6, formally declared his candidacy on Wednesday, seeking a second term.
Speaking at the National Assembly’s press briefing room, Han pointed to what he called achievements over the past 100 days, saying he had handled bills related to people’s livelihoods and passed a supplementary budget and a special law on investment in the United States.
Han said that within five days of taking office he pushed through a second comprehensive special counsel bill, followed by three judicial reform bills and legislation to establish the Public Prosecution Office and the Serious Crimes Investigation Office.
He also said bills tied to government policy tasks were processed under what he described as a solid cooperation system among the party, government and presidential office.
Han urged support, saying the next floor leader should swiftly pass livelihood-related legislation to firmly support state affairs and lead the party to a landslide victory in local elections.
“The top priority is winning the local elections, the first test for the Lee Jae-myung government,” Han said, pledging to turn regional pledges into legislation, policy and budgets and carry them out quickly.
Referring to his past work with Lee, Han said he would help ensure the government’s success through broad legislative efforts and cooperation with the opposition.
Han said he served as strategy planning committee chair when Lee was party leader and as chief of the campaign situation room when Lee was a presidential candidate, adding that he would apply that experience after victories in both the general election and the presidential election.
He said he would move “like lightning” to process legislation after a local election win, remain open to cooperation with the opposition, but respond firmly to what he called irresponsible obstruction.
After the news conference, Han told reporters that the distribution of standing committee posts in the second half of the year would be discussed with the newly elected National Assembly speaker and the opposition, and that the floor leadership team would be formed after reviewing legislative progress by committee.
Han had hinted at a run in a meeting with reporters on April 21 and resigned as floor leader.
At that time, he said his 100 days in the post felt like a year, describing the responsibility of quickly addressing internal party turmoil while simultaneously pursuing what he called an end to “insurrection,” recovery of livelihoods and broad social reform.
He also said there was still much to do, including fully uncovering what he called fabricated indictments by “Yoon Suk Yeol’s political prosecution,” swiftly passing livelihood legislation and achieving constitutional revision.
Han was elected floor leader in a by-election on Jan. 11 after the previous floor leader, Kim Byung-kee, resigned amid controversies.
In his acceptance speech after that win, Han said the time allowed to the floor leader was short but the responsibility was heavy, and pledged urgent action on what he called ending “insurrection,” prosecutorial reform, judicial reform and improving livelihoods.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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