Kweon secured a majority with 72 out of 106 votes, defeating four-term lawmaker Kim Tae-ho who garnered 34 votes.
He vowed, "I will swiftly streamline the party, prepare for the possibly upcoming presidential election, and then step down."
A close aide of President Yoon Suk Yeol, Kweon replaces Choo Kyung-ho, who resigned following controversies surrounding a parliamentary vote to lift Yoon's abrupt declaration of martial law, which has rattled the entire country.
The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) claims that Choo called PPP lawmakers to gather at the party's headquarters instead of attending the National Assembly session. It has filed charges of insurrection and other violations against Choo, accusing him of conspiring with Yoon and obstructing the parliamentary vote.
With Kweon's appointment, a rocky road seems ahead of a vote to impeach Yoon, slated for Saturday.
"The party's current stance is against Yoon's impeachment," he said. "While individual opinions should be respected, I believe we need to stand united on key issues, with all decisions being made after reaching a consensus."
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