Ahn Jung-geun, an aide to Rep. Chung Jun-ho, has been elected the 36th chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea's Aides' Council (Minbohyeop).
The council held its regular general meeting and chairman election at the National Assembly on Monday, electing Ahn as its new chairman.
In the election, Ahn campaigned under the main slogan "Minbohyeop by Your Side," presenting core pledges that drew strong support from aides. These included the uninterrupted completion of the previous leadership's key achievements—raising salary steps and welfare points for aides at grade 6 and below, and making the payment criteria for unused annual leave compensation more realistic—as well as promoting "health checkup official leave (half-day)" without pressure, eradicating sudden dismissals and building a substantive rights protection network, and establishing policy networks for each standing committee.
Ahn began his career as an intern secretary in the 19th National Assembly, then served as secretary, secretary-officer, and senior secretary through the 20th and 21st Assemblies, before rising to his current position as an aide in the 22nd Assembly. Having personally experienced every rank in the National Assembly firsthand, he is regarded as deeply understanding the hardships at each level, from the most junior secretarial staff to chief aides.
In his acceptance remarks, Ahn said, "I am deeply grateful for the active support and encouragement of Rep. Chung Jun-ho, as well as the enthusiastic backing of my senior and junior fellow aides." He added, "Instead of grand political slogans, I will focus on transforming the demanding daily lives of our aides into ones that are comfortable and dignified."
