Seoul: Rep. Jung Chung-rae of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) resigned as chairman of the party Wednesday in a move widely seen as a step toward seeking reelection at the party's upcoming national convention.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Jung announced his resignation during a meeting of the party's supreme council at the National Assembly. He reflected on his political journey, stating, "I spent many sleepless nights looking back on myself and my political life for the past few days." Jung emphasized his commitment to supporting President Lee Jae Myung's administration and maintaining unity between the ruling party, the government, and the presidential office.

Despite facing challenges, Jung remarked, "Although I never had a single day of peace due to resistance from within and outside the party, I carried out my duties without complaining." His leadership has faced criticism from some pro-Lee party members, who argue that Jung's approach favors his own hard-line supporters rather than aligning with President Lee on crucial issues.

The upcoming convention is anticipated to be a competitive race, with Jung expected to face off against Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, a close ally of Lee, and Song Young-gil, a former DP leader. Song has reportedly discussed his intentions with the president and has considered unifying his candidacy with Kim, according to DP lawmaker Park Jie-won during an interview with radio broadcaster CBS.

In the interim, with Jung stepping down, DP floor leader Han Byung-do will assume the role of acting party leader until the convention, which is scheduled for August 17.