Degree Conferral Ceremony to Be Held at Yongbong Hall on the 16th
Chonnam National University announced on the 13th that it will confer an honorary Doctor of Philosophy degree on Woo Wonsik, Speaker of the National Assembly.
The degree conferral ceremony will be held at Yongbong Hall of Chonnam National University on the afternoon of May 16. The university explained that it decided to grant this honor in recognition of Speaker Woo's contributions as a practical intellectual who has protected constitutional order and democracy during times of national crisis, and who has worked to enact livelihood legislation for the socially disadvantaged and to realize historical justice.
Since taking office as the 22nd Speaker of the National Assembly, Woo has played a central role in quickly normalizing the National Assembly amid a constitutional crisis and in upholding the responsibilities of the legislature. In particular, in December of last year, when former President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law, the National Assembly immediately passed a resolution to lift martial law, thereby restoring the authority of the legislature. Woo also led ongoing efforts to stabilize the political situation and restore constitutional order, including proposing a parliamentary investigation and a national governance consultative body.
He also realized checks and balances among constitutional institutions by swiftly electing three vacant Constitutional Court justices through a National Assembly resolution, and when the acting president withheld their appointments, he filed an injunction with the Constitutional Court in the name of the National Assembly to resolve the dispute over authority.
Woo strengthened diplomatic solidarity with the international community as well. In February, he made an official visit to China on the occasion of attending the opening ceremony of the Harbin Asian Winter Games, where he met with President Xi Jinping to discuss economic cooperation and the preservation of independence-related historical sites. In addition, he sent official letters to parliamentary leaders in 168 countries, including the G7, explaining Korea's commitment to restoring constitutional order. He also organized a bipartisan parliamentary delegation to deliver personal letters from the Speaker to major allied countries, working to restore international trust.
Woo is regarded as a leading practitioner of livelihood politics. As the inaugural chair of the Euljiro Committee, established in 2013 in response to the Namyang Dairy incident, he led policies to protect the rights of non-regular workers, franchisees, and suppliers. He has also spearheaded legislative and institutional reforms for the socially disadvantaged, including the "Six Eul Bargaining Rights Acts," the "Ban on Unpaid Labor Act," and the "Yellow Envelope Act."
He has also focused on life and safety policies, serving as the head of the National Assembly Life and Safety Forum and leading the enactment of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, the Itaewon Disaster Special Act, and the Basic Life and Safety Act. Through practical activities such as a 15-day hunger strike to oppose the ocean discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, visits to international organizations, a petition campaign that collected 500,000 signatures, and leading a nationwide rally, he has embodied the value of respect for life in politics.
The realization of historical justice is also a core part of his political philosophy. In 2021, he participated in the mission to repatriate the remains of General Hong Beomdo, jointly responded with independence merit organizations to the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's attempt to remove the bust, and actively worked to protect anti-Japanese history by proposing a National Assembly resolution and leading a campaign that gathered one million signatures. Since becoming Speaker, he has invited descendants of independence activists to the National Assembly for Liberation Day and the March 1st Movement commemoration, and organized events such as displaying the Jingwansa Taegukgi at the National Assembly, thereby promoting historical awareness at the parliamentary level.
Chonnam National University evaluated these activities as the result of philosophical leadership that extends beyond the realm of politics to put into practice public interest, justice, and humanistic reflection on life and history.
Lee Geunbae, President of Chonnam National University, stated, "Speaker Woo Wonsik's trajectory is an example of how the values of the humanities can be realized in real-world politics," adding, "This closely aligns with the direction of the academic community that Chonnam National University pursues."
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