By Choi Ha-young
Several lawmakers are vying to become the new National Assembly speaker as the incumbent Speaker Chung Sye-kyun's term is scheduled to end in May.
Customarily, the Assembly speaker is chosen among senior lawmakers from the largest party. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) currently has the most seats with 121, so it is supposed to appoint one of its lawmakers as the Assembly speaker. The appointment will be subject to endorsement at the plenary Assembly session.
Two six-term DPK lawmakers ― Rep. Moon Hee-sang and Lee Seok-hyun ― and one five-term lawmaker Park Byeong-seug are running for the post. Rep. Lee Hae-chan, a six-term lawmaker, is also being touted as a potential candidate, but he is also considered a strong candidate for next DPK chairman.
What is complicating the procedure is growing influence of the conservative Liberty Korea Party (LKP), which has only five seats less than the DPK. The gap is likely to be narrowed as the local election in June nears.
Backed by President Moon Jae-in's popularity, about 10 ruling party lawmakers are eyeing mayor and governor posts. If they win the party's nomination, they should give up their parliamentary seats no later than May 14.
Four DPK lawmakers ― Woo Sang-ho, Park Young-sun, Min Byung-doo and Jeon Hyun-heui ― have issued a challenge to incumbent Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon. President Moon's associate Rep. Jeon Hae-cheol is competing with former DPK presidential hopeful Lee Jae-myung, to get the nomination for Gyeonggi governor.
LKP lawmakers are not interested in the local elections ― as seen by many polls, the party has support of less than 20 percent and so needs to maintain its current 116 seats. The LKP is also hoping to clinch the speaker post which could be useful in countering the ruling camp's reform bills.
The Assembly is likely to pick its new speaker after the local election, sources said. In a close competition, the DPK and the LKP are going all-out to win by-elections in several electoral districts, which will be held in tandem with the local elections.
Several lawmakers are vying to become the new National Assembly speaker as the incumbent Speaker Chung Sye-kyun's term is scheduled to end in May.
Customarily, the Assembly speaker is chosen among senior lawmakers from the largest party. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) currently has the most seats with 121, so it is supposed to appoint one of its lawmakers as the Assembly speaker. The appointment will be subject to endorsement at the plenary Assembly session.
Two six-term DPK lawmakers ― Rep. Moon Hee-sang and Lee Seok-hyun ― and one five-term lawmaker Park Byeong-seug are running for the post. Rep. Lee Hae-chan, a six-term lawmaker, is also being touted as a potential candidate, but he is also considered a strong candidate for next DPK chairman.
What is complicating the procedure is growing influence of the conservative Liberty Korea Party (LKP), which has only five seats less than the DPK. The gap is likely to be narrowed as the local election in June nears.
Backed by President Moon Jae-in's popularity, about 10 ruling party lawmakers are eyeing mayor and governor posts. If they win the party's nomination, they should give up their parliamentary seats no later than May 14.
Four DPK lawmakers ― Woo Sang-ho, Park Young-sun, Min Byung-doo and Jeon Hyun-heui ― have issued a challenge to incumbent Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon. President Moon's associate Rep. Jeon Hae-cheol is competing with former DPK presidential hopeful Lee Jae-myung, to get the nomination for Gyeonggi governor.
LKP lawmakers are not interested in the local elections ― as seen by many polls, the party has support of less than 20 percent and so needs to maintain its current 116 seats. The LKP is also hoping to clinch the speaker post which could be useful in countering the ruling camp's reform bills.
The Assembly is likely to pick its new speaker after the local election, sources said. In a close competition, the DPK and the LKP are going all-out to win by-elections in several electoral districts, which will be held in tandem with the local elections.
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