Park Byeong-seok Elected Speaker of the 21st National Assembly First Half... Kim Sang-hee Becomes First Female Deputy Speaker

On the 5th, Park Byeong-seok, who was elected as the Speaker of the 21st National Assembly's first session, is expressing his gratitude for being elected. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Kang Nahum and Im Chunhan] Park Byeong-seok, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, was elected as the Speaker of the 21st National Assembly for the first half of its term. Kim Sang-hee was elected as the first female Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.

On the 5th, at the first plenary session of the 21st National Assembly, Park was elected Speaker with 191 out of 193 total votes, while all members of the United Future Party walked out. Kim received 185 out of 188 votes.

In his victory speech, Park introduced himself as "a parliamentarian who prioritizes communication and values dialogue and compromise." He added, "I have a word for the ruling party. You will well remember the failure of the four major reform bills pushed all at once during the Uri Party era in 2004. Please reflect on what true public opinion is that gave you an overwhelming majority."

Addressing the opposition party, he mentioned his experience as the Policy Committee Chair during the Lee Myung-bak administration, saying, "I led the approval of government subsidy bills amounting to 100 billion dollars, urgently requested by the Lee Myung-bak government, despite opposition from my own party," and emphasized, "I want to stress that the public gives greater applause to the opposition that makes decisions for the national interest."

Deputy Speaker Kim said in her speech, "Today marks a historic milestone in the 73-year constitutional history," and stated, "I will deeply appreciate the meaning of this honor bestowed upon me and do my best to be recorded in history as the first female Deputy Speaker who upholds the will of the people and contributes to advancing a gender-equal society."

Meanwhile, the opposition party's Deputy Speaker seat was not filled as the United Future Party protested the ruling party's unilateral opening of the assembly by collectively walking out immediately after the plenary session began.