South Korean opposition elects new leader

SEOUL, May 4 (UPI) -- The main opposition party in South Korea elected a new leader and changed its name Saturday, signaling it plans to become more centrist, party officials said.

Kim Han-gil, 60, a four-term lawmaker, was elected as the new leader of the Democratic Party, formerly the Democratic United Party, defeating his main rival, Rep. Lee Yong-sup, Yonhap news agency reported.

The center-left party has suffered a number of election defeats, including December's presidential vote and last month's by-elections in which the party failed to win a single seat.

At its convention Saturday, the party pledged to move toward centrist policies and carry out intra-party reforms, in an effort to win more public support.