The Aide's Silver Lining... Jeong Hee-yong, the Secret to Reappointment as Chief Secretary of the Floor Leader's Office

Synergy Between Former Aide Experience and Young Politician
Diagnosed with Visual Impairment... First Bill Focuses on Disability-Related Laws

"I may not have everything like an 'aircraft carrier,' but you could say I'm more like a 'fast ferry'?"

In a recent interview with Asia Economy, Jeong Hee-yong, a member of the People Power Party, compared his political style to a very fast boat. Although his background is not flashy, he evaluates himself as pursuing efficient legislative activities and having quick judgment.

Jeong is a rare 40-something lawmaker from a conservative party with a background as a secretary. He graduated from a regional national university rather than a prestigious Seoul university and gained experience as a secretary in the offices of lawmakers Joo Jin-woo, Na Kyung-won, and Song Eon-seok. He was neither a 'rich kid' nor from a family with a long political lineage. Since the People Power Party traditionally had many lawmakers who passed judicial or administrative exams, having a secretary background was rather seen as a hurdle in candidate selection. However, ahead of the 21st general election, there was a growing atmosphere to expand secretaries' participation in primaries, and Jeong threw his hat into the ring for the party primary in the stronghold region of Goryeong, Seongju, and Chilgok counties in Gyeongsangbuk-do.

Jeong decided to run for the general election after feeling a sense of fulfillment in securing budgets. He said, "While working as a secretary, I enjoyed the political and legislative functions, but I mainly took the lead in securing budgets for my constituency," adding, "I can never forget the joy of the residents when the budget was approved."

Interview_Jeong Hee-yong, Member of the People Power Party. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

A Lawmaker with Deep Knowledge of Parliamentary Affairs from a Secretary Background... Reappointed as Chief Secretary to the Floor Leader

At the time of the 2020 election, Jeong was relatively young at 43 years old. His constituency of Goryeong, Seongju, and Chilgok counties had mixed feelings of resistance and expectation toward a 'young generation' in their 40s. Jeong leveraged his youth and freshness as strengths. He recalled, "I thought I had to show political change and passion. I met local residents by riding a bicycle 120 km from the Gyeongbuk Provincial Government to my constituency, and even in the middle of winter, I campaigned holding signs without gloves to make myself known."

The perception of politicians with secretary backgrounds among local residents also changed. Jeong said, "In the past, secretaries were seen as mere appendages or political aides, but now they are viewed more as partners working together," adding, "The capabilities of secretarial staff have greatly improved." He also said, "I think the residents believed that a lawmaker with a secretary background would perform better in parliamentary activities," and "The unfamiliar passion I showed as a former secretary was well recognized by the residents." In the last general election, Jeong's primary opponent was a former county governor, and in the election, he competed against a former vice governor.

His secretary experience became an advantage within the National Assembly. First, he understood parliamentary affairs better than other first-term lawmakers and got along well with them. He was especially recognized as a 'tight-lipped lawmaker' who kept security more strictly than anyone else. Jeong emphasized, "Maintaining strategic confidentiality is the duty of a secretary." Due to these strengths, Jeong was appointed as chief secretary to Floor Leader Yoon Jae-ok, following former Floor Leader Joo Ho-young. He explained, "Representative Yoon Jae-ok is someone who understands the limitations of a minority ruling party very well," and "In such a difficult situation, the party needed someone to act as a bridge to unite the party, which is why I was chosen." Since the 21st National Assembly of the People Power Party has a high proportion of first-term lawmakers, a bridge who understands internal party affairs and connects the party leadership with them is essential.

Interview_Jeong Hee-yong, Member of the People Power Party. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Dream of Becoming a Soldier Dashed by Amblyopia... Focus on Legislation Related to People with Disabilities

"For me, a world where one side cannot see was the original world, so I didn't know it was very inconvenient."

Jeong's childhood dream was to enter the Korea Military Academy and become a soldier. He thought that becoming a soldier would allow him to engage in politics as well. His dream was dashed due to amblyopia, a condition where one eye has poor vision. Jeong's right eye had poor vision since birth, but it was not discovered until a vision test during a physical examination in the second grade of elementary school.

However, his parents opposed him receiving a disability rating. He said, "My parents felt sorry that their son had a disability," and "They didn't want the fact that their son was disabled to be known." Jeong was able to receive a disability rating only after his father passed away.

Because of this, two of the first four bills he proposed after becoming a lawmaker were related to people with disabilities. He first proposed amendments to the Braille Act to designate November 4 as Braille Day and to the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities Act to add walking instructors as specialized personnel to assist in the rehabilitation education of visually impaired people. He said, "(My disability) is not at all shameful," adding, "But since it is inconvenient, I hope people like me who experience such inconveniences can live in a better environment."

Last year, while serving as a member of the subcommittee of the National Assembly's Budget and Accounts Committee, he secured a budget to build a library for people with disabilities that can also be used by non-disabled people. In March, he proposed an amendment to the Library Act to mandate the construction of a library for people with disabilities in each metropolitan area. He expressed regret, saying, "Although the perspectives of non-disabled people toward people with disabilities have improved a lot, awareness improvement is still insufficient."

Interview_Jeong Hee-yong, Member of the People Power Party. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Introducing Innovative Technologies in Rural Areas is His Top Priority

Currently serving as a member of the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee in the latter half of the National Assembly, his greatest interest these days is the introduction of innovative technologies in rural areas. Jeong said, "While working in the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee in the first half, I realized that high value-added industries come from scientific innovation and technology," adding, "In agriculture, it is important to increase productivity and add value, and technological innovation that can simultaneously address health rights is needed."

Jeong said, "I secured a budget from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to establish a lab factory where advanced agricultural machinery can be demonstrated, and last year, as a member of the Budget and Accounts Committee subcommittee, I secured research funds for the establishment of the National Chamoe Research Institute," adding, "If this opportunity becomes a momentum, it will be possible to create research centers by region using local specialties such as grapes in Gimcheon and apples in Yeongju, which will help attract young people and address regional extinction."