Next Speaker Candidate Narrowed Down to Chu Mi-ae vs Woo Won-sik
Woo Sang-ho: "Is the 2nd in National Protocol Order Also Lee Jae-myung's Preference?"
The Democratic Party of Korea will elect the next Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly on the 16th. Bitter criticism has emerged within the party, questioning whether even the Speaker of the National Assembly, the second highest in the national protocol, is influenced by the 'Myeongsim' (the will of Representative Lee Jae-myung), sparking controversy.
On the 29th of last month, at the National Assembly, Chu Mi-ae, the elected representative (photo left), and Woo Won-shik, a member of the National Assembly, are performing the national ceremony during the Democratic Party of Korea's National Innovation Meeting's discussion session on the general election evaluation and organizational outlook. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Jin Seong-jun, the Policy Committee Chair of the Democratic Party of Korea, appeared on YTN Radio's "News Fighting with Bae Seung-hee" on the 16th and said, "It is quite common for candidates to withdraw or unify through direct negotiation or decision during intra-party primaries or election processes," drawing a line against criticism that healthy competition within the party has disappeared.
Chairman Jin stated, "What basis is there for saying that the party leader was involved in such matters (regarding the Speaker election)?" and dismissed the claim by saying, "I understand the position is that there was no involvement."
The candidates for Speaker have been narrowed down to Chu Mi-ae, the elected representative from Hanam Gap, Gyeonggi Province, and Woo Won-shik. Initially, four candidates vied for the position: Chu Mi-ae, Woo Won-shik, Jo Jeong-sik, a six-term lawmaker from Siheung Eul, Gyeonggi Province, and Jeong Seong-ho, a five-term lawmaker from Yangju, Gyeonggi Province. However, Jo declared unification with Chu, and Jeong withdrew his candidacy. During this process, it was reported that Park Chan-dae, the Democratic Party floor leader, met with Jo and Jeong respectively to persuade them to withdraw, leading insiders and outsiders to view this as a reflection of Myeongsim.
On the 13th, Woo Sang-ho appeared on CBS Radio and said, "It seems wrong that the second highest power in South Korea is decided by the party leader or floor leader," and criticized, "The Democratic Party values bottom-up nominations and intra-party democracy, so it is inappropriate for the leader to be involved in organizing the structure." On the same day, Park Ji-won, the elected representative from Haenam, Wando, and Jindo in Jeollanam-do, said on BBS Radio, "It is undesirable for the party sentiment or Myeongsim to be involved in such arrangements for the public."
Meanwhile, Representative Lee, who had been on medical leave for about a week since the 10th due to health issues, will return to party affairs on this day. His first official schedule after returning is the elected members' general meeting to select the Democratic Party's Speaker candidates. The meeting will be a head-to-head contest between Chu Mi-ae and Woo Won-shik. Attention is focused on whether Representative Lee will address suspicions about whether he 'organized the candidates.'
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