Sang-min Lee Withdraws from National Assembly Vice Speaker Election... Will Sang-hee Kim Be Elected by Acclamation?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Nahum Kang, Jinyoung Jeon] Lee Sang-min, a five-term member of the Democratic Party of Korea who was mentioned as a candidate for the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, has decided not to run in the Deputy Speaker election. With this, the ruling party's Deputy Speaker position appears to be leaning toward the 'recommendation' of Representative Kim Sang-hee.

On the 20th, Lee told reporters at the National Assembly, "Since the candidate from the Chungcheong region was unilaterally recommended as Speaker, I think it would be difficult for me, also a member from the Chungcheong region, to run together," expressing his intention not to run.

He added, "I thought a lot about running this time, but I judged that it would be appropriate to balance the regions."

Lee's constituency is Yuseong-gu B in Daejeon, the same Chungcheong region as Representative Park Byeong-seok, whose recommendation as Speaker was virtually confirmed that day.

When asked if he sympathized with the first-ever female Deputy Speaker, he said, "Since the Speaker was unilaterally recommended, some opinions suggested that having a contested election for Deputy Speaker would be fine," adding, "I don't think it matters whether the person is female or male."

Thus, the next Deputy Speaker is effectively confirmed to be Kim Sang-hee, a four-term female representative. Byeon Jae-il, who was originally among the candidates, also declared his withdrawal the day before, saying he sympathized with the cause of a "female National Assembly leadership." It is also known that other candidates have partially formed a consensus on the emergence of a female Deputy Speaker. If Kim Sang-hee is recommended, she will become the first female Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.