[Politics X-File] Who Is the Oldest Elected Member of the National Assembly in History?

⑧ 21st General Election Oldest Winner Kim Jin-pyo, Elected at Age 72
District Winner is Lee Yong-hee, National Winner is Moon Chang-mo Oldest
If Park Ji-won Wins Next Year’s Election, He Will Be the Oldest District Winner

Editor's Note"Political X-Files" is a series project that delivers "unprecedented stories" recorded in the election results and incidents of Korean politics.

There is also a "7080" in Yeouido's political circles. Who are they? Does 7080 refer to those born in the 1970s to 1980s? Or does it mean those who entered university in the 1970s or 1980s? It is true that they are people who soothe their regrets by watching the passage of time. The difference is that their birth period is much earlier.

The 7080 in question were born during the Japanese colonial period or around the time of the August 15 Liberation. The commonality among the oldest elected members of the National Assembly in past general elections falls within the category of 7080. It means they were in their 70s or 80s at the time of their election as members of the National Assembly.

The most recent oldest elected member in the 2020 21st general election is Representative Kim Jin-pyo, who is serving as the Speaker of the National Assembly. He ran as a candidate of the Democratic Party in the Suwon-mu district of Gyeonggi Province and was elected with a vote share of 55.2%.

The National Assembly Building / Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Born in May 1947 in Suwon, Speaker Kim Jin-pyo was 72 years old at the time of the April 2020 general election. Being over 70 years old and elected as a district member rather than a proportional representative is an impressive achievement in itself.

But it is still too early to be surprised. There is former Deputy Speaker Lee Yong-hee, who ran in the 2008 18th general election in the Boeun, Okcheon, and Yeongdong district of Chungbuk Province. Born in June 1931 in Okcheon, he was 76 years old at the time of the 18th general election.

It was enough to become a hot topic that a politician in his 70s ran and was elected in a district election, which requires high levels of physical and mental strength. While former Deputy Speaker Lee Yong-hee and Speaker Kim Jin-pyo are mentioned as the oldest elected members in district elections, there are "even more remarkable seniors" when it comes to proportional representation (nationwide seats).

Former President of the Korean Red Cross, Seo Young-hoon, was born in October 1920 in Deokcheon, Pyeongannam-do during the Japanese colonial period. He ran as the number one proportional representative candidate of the Millennium Democratic Party in the 2000 16th general election and was elected. At that time, he was 79 years old.

Speaker of the National Assembly Kim Jin-pyo is delivering a greeting at the launch ceremony of the bipartisan political reform lawmakers' meeting held at the National Assembly on January 30. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

So, is former President Seo Young-hoon the oldest elected member of the National Assembly in history? The ultimate record holder who even made it to the Guinness Book awaits. The protagonist is former Representative Moon Chang-mo, who served as the director of Seoul Severance Hospital.

Former Representative Moon Chang-mo was born in 1907 in Seoncheon-gun, Pyeonganbuk-do, long before the March 1st Movement. Moon, who lived as a medical professional, independence activist, and educator, ran as the number one nationwide candidate of the Unification National Party in the 1992 14th general election and was elected. At that time, he was 84 years old.

This record is unlikely to be broken anytime soon. Considering his age at the time of election, he would have been close to 90 years old after completing his four-year term, making him an ultra-elderly member.

However, the record for the oldest district-elected member held by former Deputy Speaker Lee Yong-hee may be broken in the 22nd general election on April 10, 2024. Lee set the record at age 76, but there is a person who might challenge it at age 81.

On the afternoon of January 14, Park Ji-won, former National Intelligence Service director, is giving a special lecture commemorating the 99th birthday of former President Kim Dae-jung at the 5·18 Memorial Culture Center in Seo-gu, Gwangju.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The protagonist is former National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won. Born in 1942 in Jindo, Jeollanam-do, if Park is elected in the 22nd general election, he will become a member again at age 81. Park has mainly challenged the district seat in Mokpo, Jeollanam-do.

In the 2020 21st general election, he ran as a candidate of the Minsaeng Party and lost with a disappointing 37.3% of the vote. However, in the 2012 19th general election, running as a candidate of the Democratic United Party, he won overwhelmingly with 71.2%.

Park Ji-won is currently affiliated with the Democratic Party. Whether he will run in the 22nd general election and whether he will run in his political hometown of Mokpo remains to be seen. Although he actively voices his opinions on political issues, he has not made a clear statement regarding his candidacy.

If former Director Park Ji-won runs in the general election, it will itself become a subject of interest. This is because it is a challenge not only to personally wear the member badge once more but also to claim the title of the oldest district-elected member in history.