Kim Sang-hee, First Female Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Candidate: "I Will Break the Glass Ceiling"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] On the 15th, Kim Sang-hee, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, officially announced her candidacy for the vice speaker of the 21st National Assembly.

On the same day, Kim held a press conference at the National Assembly and declared her candidacy for vice speaker, saying, "With new female leadership, I will serve as a bridge for active communication and dialogue between the ruling and opposition parties."

She pointed out, "The year 2020 must be the inaugural year of gender-equal National Assembly," adding, "Although half of the voters are women, there has never been a female representative in the Speaker's Office of the National Assembly in the 73 years of Korea's constitutional history since the Constituent Assembly. It is obviously abnormal that female representation has not been secured particularly in the political sector."

She continued, "My advancement to the Speaker's Office will break a solid glass ceiling in the male-dominated political arena," emphasizing, "It will be a touchstone to show the people's will for innovation."

Kim, who is from Gongju, Chungnam, and represents Bucheon B in Gyeonggi Province, is the longest-serving female lawmaker in the National Assembly with four terms. Utilizing her expertise as a pharmacist, she has worked on the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee and served as vice chair of the COVID-19 National Crisis Management Committee. Under the Moon Jae-in administration, she served as vice chair of the Presidential Committee on Low Fertility and Aging Society, and during the Roh Moo-hyun administration, she also served as chair of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Sustainable Development.

Female lawmakers of the Democratic Party have decided to endorse Kim as the sole candidate. However, since there are other male lawmakers within the party challenging for the vice speaker position, a primary election is inevitable.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.