Woo Won-shik

South Korean politician (born 1957)

In this Korean name, the family name is  Woo.

The Right Honourable

Woo Won-shik

우원식

Woo in 2025

Speaker of the National Assembly

Incumbent

Assumed office
5 June 2024
Deputy| Lee Hack-young
Joo Ho-young
Preceded by| Kim Jin-pyo
Member of the National Assembly

Incumbent

Assumed office
30 May 2012
Preceded by| Kwon Young-jin
Constituency| Nowon B (2012–2024)
Nowon A (2024–present)
In office
30 May 2004 – 29 May 2008
Preceded by| Im Chae-jung
Succeeded by| Kwon Young-jin
Constituency| Nowon B
Personal details
Born|  (1957-09-18) 18 September 1957 (age 67)
Seoul, South Korea
Political party| Independent
Other political
affiliations|

See list

* Peace Democratic Party (1988–1991)
* Democratic Party (1991–1995)
* National Congress for New Politics (1995–2000)
* Democratic Party (2000–2003)
* Uri Party (2003–2007)
* Grand Unified Democratic New Party (2007–2008)
* Democratic Party (2008–2011)
* Democratic Party (2011–2014)
* Democratic Party (2014–2024)

Education| Yonsei University (BS, MS)
Website| 우원식.kr
Korean name
Hangul|

우원식

Hanja|

禹元植

RR| U Wonsik
MR| U Wŏnsik

Woo Won-shik's voice

Woo Won-shik announcing the rejection of the first impeachment motion of President Yoon Suk Yeol
Recorded 7 December 2024

Woo Won-shik (Korean: 우원식; born 18 September 1957) is a South Korean politician who has served as the speaker of the 22nd National Assembly of South Korea since June 2024. He was a member of the 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 was the one who hosted the vote to lift the 2024 martial law. He also presided over the impeachments of President Yoon Suk Yeol and Acting President Han Duck-soo.[1][2]

## Early life and education

[edit]

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 in 1981 and sentenced to three years of penal labor under the Chun Doo-hwan regime for taking part in protests demanding Chun's resignation, then released in 1984.[3]

## Career

[edit]

Woo and Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs in Seoul, November 2024

Woo was elected to the National Assembly in 2004 as an Uri Party candidate in the Nowon B constituency in Seoul. Early in his Assembly career, Woo pressed for the abolition of South Korea's National Security Law,[5] and attacked the Supreme Court in 2004 for backing the permanence of the law.[6] Later, in 2007, he criticized the U.S. armed forces in Korea for the poor environmental conditions on American military bases.[citation needed] He ran unsuccessfully for chairman of the United New Democratic Party in the leadership election on 10 January 2008, losing to Sohn Hak-kyu.[7] He lost his seat in the 2008 elections, but stood successfully in the next elections in 2012.[3]

As an assemblyman, Woo has been active in promoting labor rights.[4] He is a member of the Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee.[8] In 2007, he presided over the unanimous approval of a bill to allow academics at private universities to organize unions.[9] Following his re-entry to the Assembly, in 2013 he established the Committee for Improving the Standing 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 Province 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 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]

Woo announcing the National Assembly voted 190–0 to end martial law

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, during which he climbed a fence to get inside the National Assembly Proceeding Hall and refused to forgo standard procedures despite soldiers threatening to enter the session hall,[15] and the passage of the impeachment motion against Yoon on 14 December.[16] Opinion polling held by Gallup at the time also found him emerging as the most trusted politician in South Korea for his actions during martial law and the subsequent impeachment, with a rating of 56%.[16]

On the eve of the impeachment of acting president Han Duck-soo, Woo ruled that Han can be impeached by a simple majority due to his status as a cabinet minister, paving the way for Han to be impeached by 192 MPs on 27 December 2024.[17]

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.[16]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "DP's Woo Won-shik Elected as Speaker of 22nd National Assembly amid PPP Boycott". 5 June 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
2. ^ Lee, Jung-joo (30 May 2024). "22nd Assembly begins new 4-year term". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
3. ^ a b c 서울 노원을 더불어민주당 우원식 [Woo Won-shik, Minjoo Party of Korea, Seoul Nowon B]. Focus News (in Korean). 14 April 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
4. ^ a b c d "Rep. Woo Won-shik Credited for Protecting Rights of Subcontractors". News World. 25 September 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
5. ^ "Criminal code to replace security law". Korea JoongAng Daily. 17 October 2004. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
6. ^ "Uri lawmakers challenge top court on security law". Korea JoongAng Daily. 3 September 2004. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
7. ^ "Sohn is chairman of liberal party: Election marks shift to the right". Korea JoongAng Daily. 11 January 2008. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
8. ^ "Members Profile". National Assembly. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
9. ^ "Private universities oppose professors' union". The Hankyoreh. 7 May 2007. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
10. ^ "Late in its run, film on deceased Samsung worker gets more screens". The Hankyoreh. 4 March 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
11. ^ "Main opposition party moves toward center to regain stability". The Korea Herald. 6 May 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
12. ^ "PM-nominee Hwang Kyo-ahn nomination motion submitted". The Dong-A Ilbo. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
13. ^ a b Kim, Arin (5 June 2024). "Assembly speaker elected without a single ruling party vote". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
14. ^ "Woo Won-shik Wins DP Candidacy for 1st Parliamentary Speaker in 22nd Nat'l Assembly". Korean Broadcasting System. 16 May 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
15. ^ "Unlikely political 'Thor' emerges from South Korea's martial law crisis". Al Jazeera. 27 December 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
16. ^ a b c "Why Speaker Woo Won-shik wore a lime-green tie during impeachment". The Korea Times. 16 December 2024. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
17. ^ "[Breaking] South Korea's parliament votes to impeach acting president; Ruling party vows to challenge its effect". The Korea Herald. 27 December 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.

* v
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New Politics Alliance for Democracy (2014–2015) / Democratic Party (2015–present)

Leaders (acting)|

* Ahn Cheol-soo / Kim Han-gil
* Park Young-sun
* Moon Hee-sang
* Moon Jae-in
* Kim Chong-in
* Choo Mi-ae
* Lee Hae-chan
* Lee Nak-yon
* Kim Tae-nyeon
* Do Jong-hwan
* Yun Ho-jung
* Song Young-gil
* Yun Ho-jung / Park Ji-hyun
* Woo Sang-ho
* Lee Jae Myung
* Park Chan-dae
* Kim Byung-kee
* Jung Chung-rae

Presidential candidates
(Presidents)|

* Moon Jae-in (2017)
* Lee Jae Myung (2022)
* Lee Jae Myung (2025)

Floor leaders|

| 19th (2012)|

* Jun Byung-hun
* Park Young-sun
* Kim Young-rok
* Woo Yoon-keun
* Lee Jong-kul

|

20th (2016)|

* Woo Sang-ho
* Woo Won-shik
* Hong Young-pyo
* Lee In-young

21st (2020)|

* Kim Tae-nyeon
* Park Hong-keun
* Park Kwang-on
* Hong Ihk-pyo

22nd (2024)|

* Park Chan-dae
* Kim Byung-kee

Preceding parties|

* Democratic United Party / Democratic Party (2011–2014)
* New Political Vision Party (2014)

Splinter parties|

* Minjoo Party (2014)
* People's Party (2016–2018)
* Open Democratic Party (2020)
* Transition Korea (2020)
* New Future Party (2024)
* Rebuilding Korea Party (2024)

Satellite party|

* Platform Party (2020 election)
* Democratic Alliance of Korea (2024 election)

Related articles|

* Liberalism in South Korea

Liberalism portal

* v
* t
* e

2024–2025 South Korean political crisis

Key events|

* 2024 South Korean martial law crisis
* Impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol
* Impeachment of Han Duck-soo
* Arrest of Yoon Suk Yeol
* 2025 Seoul Western District Court riot
* 2025 South Korean presidential election

Key people|

| Executive branch|

* Yoon Suk Yeol
* Han Duck-soo
* Choi Sang-mok
* Lee Ju-ho

|

National Assembly|

* Woo Won-shik

Constitutional Court|

* Moon Hyung-bae

Military|

* Kim Yong-hyun
* Park An-su

Intelligence|

* Cho Tae-yong
* Hong Jang-won

Related media|

* Stay Strong, Republic of Korea [ko]
* Inside Südkorea – Staatskrise im Schatten von Nordkorea und China

Authority control databases |

* VIAF

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