Jo Kyung-tae Announces Candidacy for National Assembly Vice Speaker: "Will Prevent Ruling Party's Unilateral Dominance and Realize Parliamentary Democracy"

Stresses Unique Six-Term Experience Across Both Progressive and Conservative Politics

Assemblyman Cho Kyoungtae of the People Power Party officially announced his candidacy for the vice speaker position in the second half of the 22nd National Assembly on May 11, stating, “Based on my experience as the most senior six-term lawmaker in the National Assembly, I will uphold politics grounded in common sense, principle, and conviction to prevent the unilateral dominance of the large ruling party and realize parliamentary democracy.”

On this morning, Assemblyman Cho held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office to declare his candidacy.

Kyoongtae Cho, a member of the People Power Party, is holding a press conference on the 11th at the National Assembly Communication Office, announcing his candidacy for the vice speaker position in the second half of the 22nd National Assembly. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Cho stated, “Our party is now standing at the edge of a knife-sharp cliff, having abandoned the vast central plains,” and added, “This vice speaker election is a critical turning point that will determine whether the People Power Party fires the starting signal for renewal or disappears into the backwaters of history.”

Cho emphasized, “I am the only six-term lawmaker who has experienced both progressive and conservative politics in Korea,” and said, “This experience of knowing both sides is the most powerful and practical tool to maximize our ability to hold the ruling party in check as the opposition.” He also remarked, “We must restore balance to the tilted playing field.”

Cho asserted, “As vice speaker of the National Assembly, I will firmly stand up against any wrongful legislative actions that disregard the people.” He continued, “With my experience in unifying beyond factional lines and with strategic negotiation skills to outmatch the ruling party, I will ensure the People Power Party, as the leading opposition, asserts its presence.”

Cho added, “In the second half of the 22nd National Assembly, it is essential that both the ruling and opposition parties are respected and that the Assembly operates normally,” and stated, “We must correct the unilateral abuses of the majority Democratic Party that have undermined parliamentary democracy, including arbitrary plenary session proceedings, one-sided operation of standing committees, and the assignment of the Judiciary Committee chair—an important check for the majority party. I will restore the traditions of cooperation and respect for the opposition that have been broken.”

Cho is a former member of the Democratic Party and, along with current Vice Speaker Joo Ho-young, is one of the most senior lawmakers within the party. Within the People Power Party, along with Cho, Assemblywoman Cho Bae-sook (five-term) and Assemblyman Park Deokheum (four-term) have also officially declared their candidacies for the opposition’s vice speaker slot. The People Power Party will select its candidate for vice speaker in a general assembly of its lawmakers on May 13.

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