Ruling party chief vows to quit ahead of October by-elections

SEOUL, Aug. 18 (Yonhap) -- Park Hee-tae, chairman of the ruling Grand National
Party (GNP), said Tuesday that he will step down from the party's top post before
running in by-elections slated for October.

Park, a former five-term lawmaker who currently does not hold a parliamentary
seat, recently notified President Lee Myung-bak of his intention to run in the
upcoming by-election in the Yangsan district of South Gyeongsang Province.
Park has since come under pressure to resign his chairmanship, as senior party
members are pushing for a leadership change to revamp the party's image ahead of
the crucial by-elections.
Voting is scheduled to be held in three provincial districts, including Yangsan,
on Oct. 28.
"I'm determined to quit after securing the party's candidacy nomination for the
by-elections around Sept. 10," Park told Yonhap. "Prior to my resignation, I want
to pave the way for a more harmonious party."
Park said that he has contracted to rent a house in the Yangsan district, near
Busan, ahead of the by-elections and will submit his preliminary registration
with a local election management committee next week.
Ahead of the by-elections, the GNP is expected to elect its new chairperson. Rep.
Chung Mong-joon, a former presidential hopeful, is being mentioned as one of the
strongest candidates for the top party post, but some have demanded that a
convention be held in September to elect new leadership.
brk@yna.co.kr
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