KOREA WHO
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Speaker of the National Assembly
Woo Won-shik
Former student activist politician, noted for leadership by 12·3 martial law Incident
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Last Updated on Jan 14, 2025
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Speaker of the National Assembly
Life Summary
Woo Won-shik is the Speaker of the National Assembly of South Korea.
As the head of the legislative branch, he faces the challenge of overcoming the December 3 martial law incident and the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk-yeol, working to resolve national political uncertainties.
He is also focused on restoring global trust through parliamentary diplomacy.
Woo was born on September 18, 1957, in Seoul.
He graduated from Kyungdong High School in Seoul and enrolled in the Civil Engineering Department at Yonsei University.
While attending Yonsei University, he led protests against then-President Park Chung-hee, which led to his forced conscription. After returning to school, he participated in protests calling for the resignation of then-President Chun Doo-hwan, for which he was sentenced to three years in prison. Following forced conscription, imprisonment, and expulsion from university, he graduated 21 years after first enrolling.
He entered politics by running as the Democratic Party candidate for Nowon-e in Seoul during the first local elections, winning a seat as a Seoul City Councilor. During the Participatory Government era, he ran as the Uri Party candidate for Nowon-e and entered the National Assembly. Although he lost in the following general election, he ran again and won.
As the inaugural chairman of the Democratic Party's Euljiro Committee, he focused on resolving labor disputes and conflicts between business and labor groups.
Under the Moon Jae-in administration, he served as the first floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. After winning the 22nd general election, he became a five-term lawmaker.
In June 2024, he was elected Speaker of the National Assembly for the first half of the 22nd National Assembly.
Woo gained attention for his careful and composed response as Speaker during the unprecedented situation of President Yoon Suk-yeol declaring martial law on December 3.
Notably, he demonstrated leadership by pushing through a resolution to lift martial law just 155 minutes after it was declared, crossing the parliamentary fence to reach the main assembly hall. This leadership has elevated him as a potential presidential candidate.
#WooWonShik #SouthKorea #NationalAssembly #MartialLaw #YonseiUniversity #DemocraticParty #ParliamentaryDiplomacy #SouthKoreaPolitics #SpeakerOfTheNationalAssembly #PresidentialCandidate
As the head of the legislative branch, he faces the challenge of overcoming the December 3 martial law incident and the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk-yeol, working to resolve national political uncertainties.
He is also focused on restoring global trust through parliamentary diplomacy.
Woo was born on September 18, 1957, in Seoul.
He graduated from Kyungdong High School in Seoul and enrolled in the Civil Engineering Department at Yonsei University.
While attending Yonsei University, he led protests against then-President Park Chung-hee, which led to his forced conscription. After returning to school, he participated in protests calling for the resignation of then-President Chun Doo-hwan, for which he was sentenced to three years in prison. Following forced conscription, imprisonment, and expulsion from university, he graduated 21 years after first enrolling.
He entered politics by running as the Democratic Party candidate for Nowon-e in Seoul during the first local elections, winning a seat as a Seoul City Councilor. During the Participatory Government era, he ran as the Uri Party candidate for Nowon-e and entered the National Assembly. Although he lost in the following general election, he ran again and won.
As the inaugural chairman of the Democratic Party's Euljiro Committee, he focused on resolving labor disputes and conflicts between business and labor groups.
Under the Moon Jae-in administration, he served as the first floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. After winning the 22nd general election, he became a five-term lawmaker.
In June 2024, he was elected Speaker of the National Assembly for the first half of the 22nd National Assembly.
Woo gained attention for his careful and composed response as Speaker during the unprecedented situation of President Yoon Suk-yeol declaring martial law on December 3.
Notably, he demonstrated leadership by pushing through a resolution to lift martial law just 155 minutes after it was declared, crossing the parliamentary fence to reach the main assembly hall. This leadership has elevated him as a potential presidential candidate.
#WooWonShik #SouthKorea #NationalAssembly #MartialLaw #YonseiUniversity #DemocraticParty #ParliamentaryDiplomacy #SouthKoreaPolitics #SpeakerOfTheNationalAssembly #PresidentialCandidate