The main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP) will elect new leadership in May, a spokesman said Monday, following the mass resignations of the party's leaders over their defeat in last year's general and presidential elections.

The new leaders will be selected at a regular national convention scheduled for May 4, DUP spokesman Jung Sung-ho said.

The DUP has been led by an emergency leadership since shortly after the December presidential election, which it lost to President-elect Park Geun-hye of the ruling Saenuri Party.

The newly elected leaders will serve two-year terms. (Yonhap News)