Lee Jun-seok became the youngest leader of any major party in democratic South Korean history, elected by party delegates and thru public polls to go the People Power Party.
A 36-year-old South Korean startup founder was elected leader of the conservative opposition party on Friday and pledged to convert voters increasingly disillusioned with traditional rough-and-tumble politics and retake the presidency next year.
Lee Jun-seok became the youngest leader of any major party in democratic South Korean history, elected by party delegates and thru public polls to go the People Power Party.
"Our biggest task is to win the presidential election," Lee said in an acceptance speech.
Lee promised an end to the divisive, acrimonious politics that South Koreans have known for many years .
"Our commitment to form fair opportunity available to anyone ... will lead us to victory within the presidential election," he said.
The People Power Party has yet to settle on its presidential candidate.
Lee is just too young to run president within the next election - the constitution requires candidates to be a minimum of 40 - and he said he would oversee the party primary for its candidate.
President Moon Jae-in's Democratic Party has three heavyweight candidates, including two former prime ministers and therefore the governor of the foremost populous province of Gyeonggi.
Lee, a graduate of Harvard University , has been a consultant together with his party since 2011, after he founded an education smartphone app, but he has never held office.
His surprise win came as younger, centrist voters have emerged as a key block amid increasing disillusionment with what many South Koreans see as hypocritical, inept leaders.
Runaway home prices and deepening inequality have contributed to a slide in Moon's popularity to record lows and to ruling party defeats in key mayoral elections in April.
Moon congratulated Lee and told him his victory was a symbol of change, the president's press secretary said. Moon also involved cooperation "even though some political confrontation could be inevitable" before the election.
