The election to pick the next leader of the main democratic Democratic United Party has become a two-person race on Sunday with the exit of Rep. Kang Gi-jung.

Kang made his announcement to quit during a joint speech session of candidates for the top party post in Gwangmyeong. He said that he plans to support Rep. Lee Yong-sup in the party election as the champion of the mainstream faction.

The decision leaves just Rep. Kim Han-gil and Lee in the race as the liberal DUP faces stiff challenges following last year’s defeat in the parliamentary and presidential races.

Following Kang’s resignation, Lee expressed gratitude and said if the party chooses him as leader, he will build up the party’s capabilities so it can win future elections.

He added that he is the only one capable of bolstering the party to meet challenges, like the emergence of Ahn Cheol-soo, who was one of the leading contenders in last year’s presidential race before he stepped down in favor of DUP candidate Moon Jae-in. Moon eventually was defeated by Park Geun-hye of the conservative Saenuri Party.

Ahn may be trying to create a new liberal party that could erode the DUP’s support base, and in the worst case scenario make it redundant in the South Korean political landscape.

Rep. Kim, meanwhile, did not comment on Kang’s move but stressed that the DUP can onlky survive if it pushes for reforms.

In addition, he stressed that party must unite to face external challenges.

The DUP is set to pick its new chairman at a national convention on Saturday. (Yonhap News)