Yang Kyung-mo Elected New Leader of Justice Party, Vows to Build 'Popular Progressive Party'

Yang Kyung-mo, a former lawmaker and labor activist, has been elected the new leader of South Korea's Justice Party. The election saw Yang run unopposed, securing a decisive 94.7% of the vote from 3,724 participants out of 9,738 eligible voters, resulting in a 38.2% turnout.

Upon his election, Yang declared his commitment to establishing a "bigger and new popular progressive party." His strategy involves expanding the party's membership, reinforcing its organizational foundation by rebuilding local chapters, and formulating progressive agendas relevant to the current era. He aims to reconnect with diverse groups, including labor, environmental advocates, women, youth, and all those striving for a new world.

Yang's political career includes significant roles as vice chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry's labor union. He also served as the first deputy leader of the Democratic Labor Party. Yang briefly served as a proportional representative in the National Assembly for four months after inheriting the seat when lawmaker Ryu Ho-jeong left the party in 2024.

The Justice Party faced challenges in filling leadership positions, as no candidates initially registered for the party leader and deputy leader elections. The deadline for candidate registration was extended, ultimately leading to Yang's sole candidacy for the leadership. The party plans to hold a separate election later to fill the deputy leader positions, which remain vacant.