Ruling party gets new chief ahead of parliamentary by-election

SEOUL, Sept. 7 (Yonhap) -- Rep. Chung Mong-joon, the head of Hyundai Heavy
Industries and a six-term lawmaker, took command of the ruling Grand National
Party (GNP) on Monday after his predecessor stepped down to run in next month's
parliamentary by-elections.

Chung automatically assumed the post as he was the runner up in the race at the
party's national convention in July last year, in which Park Hee-tae was elected
as the head.
"It feels especially more meaningful to be here today at the place that has
provided me with numerous political assets and will continue to be a place of
good memories, and I am honored to have served here with you," Park said at the
start of his last party executive meeting as GNP chief.
The 71-year-old had already declared his bid for the Assembly seat in Yangsan,
South Gyeongsang Province, a power base of the ruling party. Two other
parliamentary seats are up for grabs in the Assembly by-elections to be held Oct.
28.
The change of command comes as the entire party leadership has been under
mounting pressure to step down since the GNP's embarrassing defeat in April's
by-elections, failing to grab any of five parliamentary seats.
Another defeat in the upcoming election could immediately thwart Chung's
leadership, especially with a national convention expected early next year.
Chung, 57, takes the post with a personal agenda as well. A former presidential
candidate elected from a constituency where his company is headquartered, the
lawmaker only joined the GNP in December 2007 following years as an independent,
after declaring his support for then presidential nominee Lee Myung-bak.
Still considered a viable presidential aspirant, he will be tested for political
leadership and whether he can compete and win against a major party faction led
by Park Geun-hye, the daughter of a late president and former rival to President
Lee Myung-bak for the party's nomination.
The GNP currently controls 168 seats in the 299-member unicameral National Assembly.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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