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Woo Won-Shik

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Woo Won-Shik

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Faisal Abdo
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Woo Won-shik

Woo Won-shik (Korean: 우원식; born 18 September


The Right Honourable
1957) is a South Korean politician who has served as
Speaker of the 22nd National Assembly of South Woo Won-shik
Korea since June 2024. He was a Member of the 우원식
National Assembly for Nowon, Seoul from 2004 to
2008 and returned to office in 2012. He was a member
of Democratic Party of Korea prior to his election as
speaker in 2024. As speaker, he presided over the
impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol.[1][2]

Early life and education


Woo was born in Seoul in 1957 and studied civil
engineering at Yonsei University,[3] later receiving a
master's degree in environmental studies from the
same university.[4] He was arrested and sentenced to
three years of penal labor under the Chun Doo-hwan
regime in 1981 for taking part in protests demanding Woo in 2024
Chun's resignation.[3] Speaker of the National Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office
Career 5 June 2024
Preceded by Kim Jin-pyo
Member of the National Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office
30 May 2012
Preceded by Kwon Young-jin
In office
Woo and Latvian President Edgars 30 May 2004 – 29 May 2008
Rinkēvičs in Seoul, November 2024
Preceded by Im Chae-jung
Succeeded by Kwon Young-jin
Woo was elected to the National Assembly in 2004 as
an Uri Party candidate in the Nowon B constituency in Constituency Nowon B (Seoul)
Seoul. Early in his Assembly career, Woo pressed for Personal details
the abolition of South Korea's National Security Born 18 September 1957
Law,[5] and attacked the Supreme Court in 2004 for Seoul, South Korea
backing the permanence of the law.[6] Later, in 2007, Political party Independent
he criticized the U.S. armed forces in Korea for the Other political Democratic Party (2015–
poor environmental conditions on American military affiliations 2024)
bases. He ran unsuccessfully for chairman of the Education Yonsei University (BS,
United New Democratic Party in the leadership MS)
election on 10 January 2008, losing to Sohn Hak-
Website 우원식.kr (http://우원식.k
kyu.[7] He lost his seat in the 2008 elections, but stood
r/)
successfully in the next elections in 2012.[3]
Korean name
As an assemblyman, Woo has been active in promoting
Hangul 우원식
labor rights.[4] He is a member of the Assembly's
Environment and Labor Committee.[8] In 2007, he Hanja 禹元植
presided over the unanimous approval of a bill to allow Revised U Wonsik
academics at private universities to organize unions.[9] Romanization
Following his re-entry to the Assembly, in 2013 he McCune– U Wŏnsik
established the Committee for Improving the Standing Reischauer
of the Have-Nots or "Euljiro Committee", a group that
mediates industrial disputes and works to protect
workers' rights. He has served as the Committee's chairman since its founding.[4][10]

Woo has served in a number of important positions in the Democratic Party and its predecessors,
including deputy floor leader and deputy secretary general.[4] He is seen as independent of the party's
pro–Roh Moo-hyun and Jeolla factions.[11] Woo also acted as opposition administrator of the special
hearing committee to vet the appointment of Hwang Kyo-ahn as Prime Minister in May–June 2015, with
the Dong-A Ilbo describing him at this time as having a "strong, steely character".[12]

Woo is notable for leading anti-Japanese campaigns, and has been described by rivals as a "Japan hawk."
One notable campaign was a two-week hunger strike he undertook in July 2023 in protest of Japan's plan
to discard wastewater from the quake-wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant. He also opposed the
International Atomic Energy Agency's verdict which found that Japan's plan was safe.[13]

On 16 May 2024, Woo was elected Speaker of the 22nd South Korean National Assembly.[14] He
formally assumed the position after being officially elected on 5 June 2024.[13]

As speaker, Woo has presided over several important occasions such as the revocation by the National
Assembly of the declaration of martial law by President Yoon Suk Yeol on 4 December 2024 and the
passage of the impeachment motion against Yoon on 14 December.[15]

Woo considers pro-democracy activist and former Democratic United Party senior adviser Kim Geun-tae
as his political mentor and is known to wear a lime-green tie given to him by Kim on matters of important
significance.[15]

References
1. "DP's Woo Won-shik Elected as Speaker of 22nd National Assembly amid PPP Boycott" (htt
ps://world.kbs.co.kr/service/news_view.htm?lang=e&Seq_Code=185877). 5 June 2024.
Retrieved 5 June 2024.
2. Jung-joo, Lee (30 May 2024). "22nd Assembly begins new 4-year term" (https://www.koreah
erald.com/view.php?ud=20240530050592). The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
3. 서울 노원을 더불어민주당 우원식 (http://www.focus.kr/Event/Election/general_election/2016/vi
ew.php?key=2016041400013507427) [Woo Won-shik, Minjoo Party of Korea, Seoul Nowon
B]. Focus News (in Korean). 14 April 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
4. "Rep. Woo Won-shik Credited for Protecting Rights of Subcontractors" (http://newsworld.co.
kr/detail.htm?no=2039). News World. 25 September 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
5. "Criminal code to replace security law" (http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/arti
cle.aspx?aid=2481325). Korea JoongAng Daily. 17 October 2004. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
6. "Uri lawmakers challenge top court on security law" (http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/ne
ws/article/Article.aspx?aid=2464651). Korea JoongAng Daily. 3 September 2004. Retrieved
26 April 2016.
7. "Sohn is chairman of liberal party: Election marks shift to the right" (http://koreajoongangdail
y.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=2884992). Korea JoongAng Daily. 11 January
2008. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
8. "Members Profile" (http://korea.assembly.go.kr/mem/mem_pro.jsp?mem_code=i77k%2F9J5
ZN0%3D). National Assembly. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
9. "Private universities oppose professors' union" (http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_
national/207620.html). The Hankyoreh. 7 May 2007. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
10. "Late in its run, film on deceased Samsung worker gets more screens" (http://english.hani.c
o.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/626747.html). The Hankyoreh. 4 March 2014.
Retrieved 26 April 2016.
11. "Main opposition party moves toward center to regain stability" (http://www.koreaherald.com/
view.php?ud=20130506000917). The Korea Herald. 6 May 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
12. "PM-nominee Hwang Kyo-ahn nomination motion submitted" (http://english.donga.com/List/
3/all/26/410761/1). The Dong-A Ilbo. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
13. Arin, Kim (5 June 2024). "Assembly speaker elected without a single ruling party vote" (http
s://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20240605050681). The Korea Herald. Retrieved
5 June 2024.
14. "Woo Won-shik Wins DP Candidacy for 1st Parliamentary Speaker in 22nd Nat'l Assembly"
(https://world.kbs.co.kr/service/news_view.htm?lang=e&Seq_Code=185489). Korean
Broadcasting System. 16 May 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
15. "Why Speaker Woo Won-shik wore a lime-green tie during impeachment" (https://www.kore
atimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/356_388560.html). The Korea Times. 16 December 2024.
Retrieved 16 December 2024.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Woo_Won-shik&oldid=1263588401"

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