Former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok announced his candidacy for leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) on Monday, vowing to reform the party for the success of the Lee Jae Myung administration. The four-term lawmaker made the announcement as the ruling party plans to hold a convention on Aug. 17 to elect its new chairperson and members of the party's Supreme Council. "With an unwavering sense of responsibility for the success of the Lee Jae Myung administration, I announce my candidacy for the leadership of the DPK," Kim said in the southwestern city of Gwangju, a traditional stronghold for the liberal party. Kim called for sweeping changes in the party, saying the DPK had failed over the past year to convert public approval for the Lee administration into support for the party and electoral success. Despite winning 12 of the 16 mayoral and gubernatorial seats in the June 3 local elections, the ruling party lost key battlegrounds, including the Seoul mayoral race. "We must restore the DPK as a capable, strong and winning party as it was under the leadership of Lee Jae Myung,"