Rep. Park Jie-won of the Democratic Party of Korea declared his candidacy for Speaker of the National Assembly in the second half of the 22nd National Assembly on Tuesday, pledging to "dedicate everything to building a first-class National Assembly."
At a press conference that morning, Park said, "We must create a 'first-class, hardworking K-National Assembly' that serves as a proper partner supporting a capable president."
"We can finally put an end to the insurrection only by making the Lee Jae-myung administration a success, opening wide the door to the Seventh Republic, and bringing about the reelection of a reformist government," he stressed. "This is the top goal of the 22nd National Assembly and the final wish I, Park Jie-won, truly want to fulfill."
Park presented four pledges: completing prosecutorial and judicial reform, supporting parliamentary and standing committee activities, strengthening parliamentary diplomacy, and establishing a National Assembly Special Committee on the Future. "The highest form of politics is cooperation, but I will not accommodate the 'Yoon Again' forces," he said. "I will decisively reform the National Assembly into one that provides greater support to lawmakers and standing committees that work harder for the people."
"The National Assembly will elevate the national prestige that the president has raised by another level and preemptively resolve the administration's headaches," he added. "Through the National Assembly Special Committee on the Future, we will address issues such as population decline, regional extinction crises, low birthrates, and aging, and prepare for the future."
Emphasizing that he is the oldest among sitting lawmakers, Park said, "An artist's work is valued most in their later years. I will dedicate all of Park Jie-won's experience, expertise, political skills, and abilities — proven in the National Assembly, administration, intelligence, and inter-Korean relations — to building the finest premium National Assembly in the history of the Republic of Korea."
After first entering the National Assembly in 1992 during the 14th term, Park won elections in the 18th, 19th, 20th, and 22nd general elections, reaching his fifth term. He previously served as chief of staff to former President Kim Dae-jung and as director of the National Intelligence Service under the Moon Jae-in administration.
