[First-Term Companion] Waking Up at 5 AM and Minute-by-Minute Schedule... 20-Year Female Entrepreneur Also Says "Studying Hard Again"

A Day in the Life of Han Mu-gyeong, First-Term Member of the Future United Party

Han Mu-kyung, first-term lawmaker of the United Future Party, arriving at the National Assembly main building. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] It has been just 10 days since the elected members started being called members of the National Assembly. Everything from the title to daily life feels unfamiliar, but how do the first-term members of the 21st National Assembly, who say "passion is number one," spend their days? We followed Han Mugyeong, a member of the United Future Party who lived as a female entrepreneur for over 20 years but says she is "studying again," on the 10th.

On that day, Han started her day by attending a "First-term Lawmaker Study Group" held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building at 7:30 a.m. It is a well-known meeting called "Myungbulheojeon Conservative," which invited Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, as a speaker. On this day, Professor Park Hyeongjun of Dong-A University, who served as the joint election campaign committee chairman in the April 15 general election, gave a lecture explaining the significance of this election and the role of first-term lawmakers. After about an hour-long lecture, Han said, "The comment that innovation was not properly achieved really resonated with me. He also explained the attitude expected of first-term lawmakers, whose importance has increased, and I strongly agreed."

She has been following this schedule every Wednesday since she was a candidate. Including meetings focused on legislative research, National Assembly schedules almost always start at 7:30 a.m. To attend on time, she has to wake up by 5 a.m. at the latest, but it is an important event that no one can miss. Han emphasized, "I think every day about how to live faithfully as a member of the National Assembly. Listening to the experiences of senior members helps me check my shortcomings. It is a precious opportunity."

First-term members of the United Future Party, including Assemblywoman Han Mu-kyung, are holding a silent protest against all discrimination at the National Assembly Roden Hall on the 10th. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

First-term Assemblywoman Han Mu-kyung of the United Future Party. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

Having lived as a female entrepreneur for over 20 years, she said she is temporarily emptying the "vessel as an entrepreneur" and building the "vessel as a member of the National Assembly" one by one. On that day, she also planned the "8 minutes 46 seconds silent protest" in the Rotunda Hall of the National Assembly Main Building to mourn the Black man who died due to excessive police force in the United States. This was part of her process of becoming "politician Han Mugyeong."

On that day, nine first-term lawmakers from the United Future Party knelt on one knee in the National Assembly and held a silent protest to express opposition to all forms of discrimination, which became a hot topic. She said she was inspired by the similar action taken by the Democratic Party leadership and lawmakers in the U.S. on the 8th to protest racial discrimination. This is the first time for first-term lawmakers of the United Future Party in domestic politics.

She explained the reason for planning the performance by rhetorically asking, "Isn't there a lot of conflict even when applied to our country?" The meaning of the event was expanded from racial discrimination to opposition against gender discrimination, disability discrimination, religious discrimination, and regional discrimination. "Even in politics, there is a very partisan and contentious division, but the people do not want that. I thought something that both ruling and opposition parties could agree on was necessary, and honestly, I hope the ruling party will continue to participate as well." Having lived always a step behind during her entrepreneur days, she is now stepping forward.

Han Mu-kyung, first-term lawmaker of the United Future Party, presiding over a meeting in the office. / Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

The afternoon was no less hectic. At 1:30 p.m., before the party members' meeting, she took time to hold a meeting with her aides. There was an open discussion about bills that fellow lawmakers requested to co-sponsor. Afterwards, she consecutively attended the party members' meeting at 2 p.m. and the plenary session at 3 p.m. Starting from the 11th, she will hold workshops with her aides to study basic income, which has become a hot topic in politics. She also plans to regularly meet with local female entrepreneurs to listen to their difficulties.

It did not take long to break the prejudice that "members of the National Assembly just play around." "After coming here, I realized they really work hard. Most lawmakers are so busy that they divide their personal time down to the second." His personal life during weekdays has completely disappeared as well. "I gave up," she said, her face full of anticipation for the path she will walk over the next four years.

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