By Yoo Dong-ho
Staff Reporter

Rep. Chough Soon-hyung on Friday was elected new leader of the second opposition Millennium Democratic Party (MDP), outmaneuvering seven other competitors during a party national convention at Olympic Park in southeastern Seoul.

Chough, 68, the third son of former renowned oppositionist Chough Pyong-ok, received 3,199 out of 10,050 votes or 31.03 percent overall.

The fifth-term lawmaker, 68, vowed that he would do his utmost so that the party would sweep the crucial general elections slated for April next year.

``I will accept people’s demand for changes and reform of our party and do my utmost to gain back the public’s trust to win the Assembly elections,’’ he said in an acceptance speech.

He proposed a meeting of the heads of the four major political parties and urged the main opposition Grand National Party to end its boycott of the National Assembly.

He also stressed the MDP should discontinue its internal feuds and conflicts and work together for a victory in next year’s general elections.

Rep. Choo Mi-ae marked the second with 2,151 votes or 21.43 percent, followed by Rep. Kim Kyung-jae with 1,199 votes and Rep. Chang Che-shik with 1,150 votes.

A total of 50,25 delegates of 6,622 party members cast two ballots to select a chairman as well as four supreme council members. The leadership vote was the MDP’s first since about 40 lawmakers bolted the party to form the Uri Party in support of President Roh Moo-hyun.

Chough had been picked to win the leadership by a thin margin based on pre-election polls in what is seen as a contest between the old and young generations in the party.

Chough represents a wider political spectrum and is backed by conservative and moderate forces in the 60-strong MDP. Most of the party’s senior members, like acting chairman Park Sang-cheon and Chung Kyun-hwan, support Chough.

A 45-year-old former judge, Choo is often dubbed an ``iron lady’’ in the male-dominated political world and has attracted a majority of the party’s young lawmakers due to her pledge to rid the party of its corrupt image.

Four runners-up _ Choo, Kim Kyoung-jae, Chang and Kim Young-hwan _ were chosen as the supreme councilor member.

The MDP has been engulfed in internal differences since some young lawmakers urged the old guard to step back from the frontline in a bid to boost its image in the lead-up to the general elections.


yoodh@koreatimes.co.kr