Park Ji-hyun, the former co-chair of the main opposition Democratic Party's(DP) emergency steering committee, will not be allowed to run for the party chairmanship during next month's party congress.

Current interim leader Woo Sang-ho said on Monday that the emergency steering committee will not ask the party affairs committee to consider an exceptional clause that would have enabled Park to run because they could not find a clear reason to allow it.

Park had previously urged both committees to permit her candidacy, but under party regulations, only those who have been members for six  months can run in the leadership election, and Park is roughly one month short of fulfilling the requirement.

DP spokesperson Jo O-seop said while the party affairs committee could reconsider the matter if Park makes a formal request, Monday's decision, although reached without a vote, was unanimous.