Joo Ho-young Elected Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly: "Advance Progressive Politics Through Concession and Compromise"

Assemblyman Jaeseok receives 269 votes in favor out of 283 members

On the 27th, the National Assembly elected Representative Joo Ho-young, a six-term lawmaker, as the Deputy Speaker of the 22nd National Assembly for the first half of the term, representing the People Power Party. With this, following Speaker Woo Won-shik and Deputy Speaker Lee Hak-young from the Democratic Party of Korea, the leadership team for the first half of the 22nd National Assembly has been finalized.

On the afternoon of the 27th, during the plenary session, the National Assembly held the 'Deputy Speaker Election,' where Representative Joo was elected Deputy Speaker with 269 votes in favor out of 283 members present.

Joo Ho-young, a member of the People Power Party, is attending the plenary session held at the National Assembly on the 27th and greeting fellow lawmakers. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Immediately after his election, Deputy Speaker Joo stated in his acceptance speech, "Concerns and worries among the public are growing regarding whether procedural democracy as well as substantive democracy are being implemented, whether urgent livelihood issues are being properly addressed, whether meticulous national strategies are being developed amid a severe international security environment and fierce technological hegemony competition, whether the speed and quality of legislation are truly reliable, and whether the conduct of lawmakers maintains dignity."

He continued, "There are predictions that the environment of the 22nd National Assembly will be more challenging than ever with many confrontational situations," adding, "There is nothing that cannot be resolved through dialogue, listening, and discussion. I hope we can dispel the public’s concerns and advance toward mature politics by empathizing with each other, making concessions, and compromising."

He also reiterated the importance of devotion to the people over party interests. Deputy Speaker Joo emphasized, "It was once said that the world belongs to the public (天下爲公), meaning the world is not for private interests but for the entire people," and urged, "Let us abandon selfish desires and do our best as constitutional institutions solely for the Republic of Korea and all its citizens."

Born in 1960 in Uljin, Gyeongbuk, Deputy Speaker Joo is a graduate of the 14th Judicial Research and Training Institute and served as a judge. He concluded his 19-year judicial career in 2003 as a presiding judge at the Daegu District Court. In 2004, he ran as a candidate for the Grand National Party in Suseong-gu Eul, Daegu, and was elected to the 17th National Assembly. From the 17th to the 20th National Assembly, he represented Suseong-gu Eul, and from the 21st to the 22nd, he was elected consecutively from Suseong-gu Gap, becoming the longest-serving six-term lawmaker within his party.

He is classified as a moderate conservative with a rational personality. Notably, during the 21st National Assembly, he served twice as floor leader and also as emergency committee chairman, earning recognition for stabilizing and leading the party during times of crisis.