Seoul: The leader of the minor opposition New Reform Party has resigned in the wake of the party's disappointing performance in the June 3 local elections, where the party failed to secure any significant positions.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Rep. Lee Jun-seok announced his resignation during a press conference at the National Assembly. Lee expressed that despite his efforts to propose reforms within the party following the election losses, he was unable to garner the necessary support. "This is no one's fault," Lee stated. "The responsibility for failing to persuade others lies entirely with me as the party leader."

The New Reform Party faced significant setbacks during the elections, failing to capture any of the 16 major mayoral and gubernatorial posts, as well as any of the 14 parliamentary seats contested. The party managed to win only a single local council seat, a result that further emphasized the challenges it faces.

Compounding the party's troubles, one of its candidates, Jeong Yi-han, was arrested and charged with staging an assault on himself, allegedly to gain voter sympathy. This incident added to the party's woes and contributed to its troubled image during the election cycle.

Following Lee's resignation, Rep. Chun Ha-ram, the current floor leader of the party, is expected to step in as the acting party leader, navigating the party through this period of transition and attempting to rebuild its standing and unity.