South Korea's ruling party has chosen Kim Gi-hyeon, a veteran lawmaker close to President Yoon Suk-yeol, as its new leader.

The People Power Party announced at a party convention on Wednesday that Kim won a majority vote in the four-person race.

Kim, who is 64, is a four-time lawmaker and served as the party's floor leader.

In his acceptance speech, Kim said he will work together with other party members to stabilize people's lives and win the general election in April next year.

At the beginning of the convention, President Yoon called for unity with the new leadership.

In South Korea, the main opposition Democratic Party controls the National Assembly with a majority of the seats. People Power Party aims to make the Yoon administration's power base more solid and win the next general election under the party leader close to the president.