Seo Young-kyo, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party, said April 26 that she will not run in the party’s upcoming election for floor leader, saying she will focus on her duties as chair of a parliamentary investigation panel and as head of the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee.
In a Facebook post, Seo noted that the party has begun formal procedures for the floor leader race, including forming an election management committee. She said she had considered running as someone who sought the post in 2025.
“But this time, I will concentrate and do my best” in her current roles, she wrote, referring to her chairmanship of a special parliamentary committee investigating allegations involving what the panel calls politically motivated, fabricated indictments by prosecutors under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, and her post as chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.
Seo said her work has focused on uncovering what she described as the reality behind alleged fabrication by the Yoon administration, while also pursuing prosecutorial reform and legislation related to people’s livelihoods.
“As chair of the parliamentary investigation, many of the wrongdoings committed by the Yoon Suk Yeol administration to eliminate political opponents, including President Lee Jae-myung, have come to light,” Seo wrote. She added that as judiciary committee chair she is carrying out “important tasks” including prosecutorial and judicial reform and legislation on livelihoods and the economy.
Seo ran in the Democratic Party’s 2025 floor leader election, competing against Rep. Kim Byung-kee, but lost.
With Seo opting out of the next race, Reps. Park Jeong and Baek Hye-ryeon are expected to compete for the post against Rep. Han Byung-do, who has already declared his candidacy.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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