Kim Hyong-o to Become Assembly Speaker
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
Rep. Kim Hyong-o of the governing Grand National Party (GNP) was selected as the party's candidate for National Assembly speaker, Monday.
Party lawmakers also picked Rep. Lee Yoon-sung as the candidate for vice speaker. Parliament has two vice speakers ― one chosen from among governing party legislators, while the other goes to the largest opposition party.
Lawmakers of the ruling and opposition parties are scheduled to confirm the lineup of one speaker and two vice speakers Thursday. The main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) has yet to select its candidate for the post.
But The UDP and other opposition parties said they may boycott the vote as the government has shown few signs of trying to renegotiate a beef import deal with the United States.
Kim is a five-term lawmaker who has held key posts in the party, including floor leader and secretary-general. He worked for the now-defunct presidential transition team as vice chairman, and was previously a reporter with the Dong-A Ilbo newspaper.
A four-term legislator, Lee worked with the Korea Broadcasting System as a nightly news anchor for several years.