Lee Sang-min Declares Candidacy for National Assembly Speaker: "Confident I Won't Be Swayed by Any Specific Faction or Clique"

Sangmin Lee, Chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Central Election Commission meeting held at the National Assembly on the 28th and delivering a greeting. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Naju-seok and Park Joon-yi] Lee Sang-min, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, declared his candidacy for the Speaker of the National Assembly on the 16th. Lee promised, "I will actively and proactively demonstrate dynamic and decisive leadership to ensure that healthy checks and balances, as well as cooperation, function effectively and appropriately."

At a press conference held at the National Assembly Communication Office on the same day, Lee stated, "In today's unprecedented era of crisis and anxiety, politics, which should provide solutions and hope, is failing to fulfill its role and is instead causing harm, drawing widespread criticism from society. Despite my shortcomings, I have dared to step forward."

He said, "To overcome petty, narrow-minded politics and transform it into bold, large-scale politics, the National Assembly must move beyond its lethargic state caused by the expansion and reproduction of wasteful political strife. It should become a melting pot that dissolves all conflicts, antagonisms, and confrontations in our society into one, skillfully adjusting conflicting interests and resolving current issues. As Speaker, I will exercise steadfast leadership based on principles and public will, without pandering to trends."

Lee pledged, "I will maintain the rightful authority of the National Assembly firmly without wavering under any circumstances," and added, "I am confident that I will not be swayed or manipulated by any particular faction or lineage."

He continued, "I aim to restore and revive politics, overcoming all conflicts and antagonisms through politics to achieve integration and cooperation, realizing our dream of creating a better world, and ensuring that we all feel the efficacy of politics by serving as Speaker of the National Assembly."

During a meeting with reporters, regarding the upcoming internal party Speaker candidate election on the 24th, Lee conveyed the atmosphere, saying, "The majority party, the ruling party, goes through a recommendation process, and many Democratic Party members have the will that the party should not remain as it is now."