Five-term lawmaker Woo Won-Shik picked as National Assembly speaker candidate

SEOUL, May 16 (Yonhap) -- The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) on Thursday selected five-term lawmaker Woo Won-Shik as its candidate for the next National Assembly speaker.

Woo is expected to ultimately become the speaker of the incoming 22nd National Assembly, set to open later this month, as it is customary for the party holding the most parliamentary seats to take the speaker position.

The DP secured 175 seats in the 300-seat National Assembly in last month's general elections.

Woo was chosen as the candidate during the general meeting of lawmakers, beating Choo Mi-Ae, a six-term lawmaker and former justice minister, who was widely expected to be elected as the candidate.

Woo served as the party's floor leader from 2017-2018 under the then Moon Jae-in administration.

"The National Assembly should do its job according to what the public wants," Woo told reporters.

He pledged a "completely different National Assembly," one that values discussions but also pushes ahead on any "regression or delays" that go against the public sentiment "in accordance with the National Assembly Act agreed upon by the ruling and opposition parties."

Meanwhile, DP leader Lee Jae-myung also attended the meeting, returning to work after a weeklong sick leave.

"Since the outcome reflects the decision of the elected representatives, it should be seen as the sentiment of the party," Lee told reporters after the announcement. "I believe any candidate will perform the role of the speaker well."

Rep. Lee Hack-young, a four-term lawmaker with experience as a student and social activist, was selected as the DP's candidate for the assembly's vice speaker.

julesyi@yna.co.kr
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