A non-mainstream lawmaker was elected floor leader of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy Thursday following the party's crushing defeat in the recent parliamentary by-elections.

Four-time lawmaker Lee Jong-geol narrowly beat Choi Jae-seong, 66-61.

His victory is seen as NPAD's effort to heal its image since it failed to win any of the four seats up for grabs in the by-elections last month.

He is not part of the pro-Roh Moo-hyun faction, to which NPAD chairman Moon Jae-in belongs. Roh Moo-hyun, who died in 2009, was a former liberal president and Moon was among his key aides.

Lee vowed to solve NPAD's crisis "with leisure and force" but also in a careful and serious manner. "I'll lead our way out of this crisis through communication." (Yonhap)