Jung Kyung-tae Announces Candidacy for National Assembly Vice Speaker

Jung Kyung-tae, a member of the People Power Party, has declared his candidacy for the position of Vice Speaker of the National Assembly, describing himself as the only six-term lawmaker who has experienced both progressive and conservative politics in South Korea.

At a press conference held on May 11 in the National Assembly's communication hall, Jung stated, "I will become a Vice Speaker who listens to the rational and sensible voices of the people, opening a new chapter of cooperation and checks in the 22nd National Assembly."

He criticized the ruling party's unilateral legislative actions and autocratic management of the National Assembly, saying, "The dialogue and compromise that are essential to parliamentary democracy have faded away due to the ruling party's legislative rush. If the People Power Party fails to properly check the Democratic Party, it will lead to greater arrogance from them, and the consequences will return to the people's livelihoods, pushing South Korea into crisis."

Jung emphasized that the upcoming Vice Speaker election will be a critical juncture for the People Power Party, determining whether it will signal a renewal or fade into history. He urged the party to step out boldly from behind a curtain of military rule.

He added, "The Vice Speaker position allocated to the opposition is not merely an honorary role. It must serve as a frontline barrier against the unchecked power of the ruling party, correcting the imbalance in the political landscape. The standards for cooperation and checks must be solely based on the livelihoods of the people."

Jung vowed to confront any legislative actions that disregard the people and to uphold the values of constitutional spirit and rule of law by preventing self-cancellation of charges against the president.

He also expressed his commitment to establishing the presence of the People Power Party as the leading opposition party through strategic negotiations that transcend partisan lines and by actively negotiating with the ruling party on behalf of the smaller opposition party.

Furthermore, he pledged to lead the realization of parliamentary democracy, stating, "We must correct the unilateral proceedings of plenary sessions, the autocratic operation of standing committees, and the issues surrounding the allocation of the chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, which have undermined parliamentary democracy due to the majority party's abuses, and restore the traditions of cooperation and respect for the opposition in the National Assembly."

The People Power Party will select its candidate for Vice Speaker at a general meeting on May 13. So far, lawmakers Cho Bae-sook and Park Deok-heum have also announced their candidacies.