Jo Jungsik Becomes 'Speaker of the National Assembly' After Three Attempts, Known as 'Uncle Frog' [Current Affairs Show]

Started Political Career with the Late Je Jeong-gu as His Mentor
Elected Six Consecutive Times in Siheung-eul, Gyeonggi Province
"Speed Over Cooperation"
Poised to Push Through Legislative Agendas

■ Broadcast: The Asia Business Daily’s “So Jongseop’s Current Affairs Show” (Monday–Friday, 4–5 p.m.)

■ Host: So Jongseop, Political Specialist ■ Producer: Lee Miri

※ When quoting this article, please be sure to cite “So Jongseop’s Current Affairs Show.”

On May 13, Jo Jung-sik, a six-term lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, was elected as the candidate for the Speaker of the second half of the 22nd National Assembly. He won a majority in the first round of voting, defeating Representatives Kim Tae-nyeon and Park Ji-won. Since the Democratic Party holds a majority of seats, if the bill is put to a vote at the plenary session on the 20th, Jo is expected to assume the duties of Speaker. Jo is widely known as a leading pro-Lee Jae-myung figure within the party.

Having previously served as Special Political Advisor to President Lee Jaemyung, Jo emphasized stability and speed during the nomination process. He asserted, “For a National Assembly Speaker from the ruling party, the most important qualities are good rapport with the President and proven stability. I will make the second half of the National Assembly a true assembly of national sovereignty and a National Assembly that ensures stability in people’s livelihoods.” He also pledged, “If the Democratic Party needs to take all 17 standing committee chairmanships in the second half, I will do so. I will ensure the parliamentary organization is completed without fail by June. Work must begin in July. Speed is more important than cooperation. I promise to pass 100% of the policy bills put forward by President Lee Jaemyung within the year.” This stance suggests unavoidable clashes with opposition parties.

Jo Jung-sik, elected as the candidate for the Speaker of the 22nd National Assembly's second half, is delivering his acceptance speech at the parliamentary meeting of the Democratic Party of Korea, held on the 13th at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Jo was born in 1963 in Jung-gu, Seoul, as the second of three sons. He and his wife, Jo Mi-seon, have one son. After graduating from Dongsung High School in Hyehwa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, he entered Yonsei University’s Department of Architectural Engineering in 1982. While at university, he participated in the club “Human Research Society.” Although he was never imprisoned, he was known to have taken part in student activism. He fulfilled his military service as a sergeant in the Army. After graduating, he was involved in labor activism for about four years from 1988, working as a press operator after covertly obtaining employment at a factory. His religion is Catholic, and his hobbies include playing baduk (Go). He also enjoys cycling and soccer.

Jo entered politics in the late 1990s as an expert member of the so-called “Little Democratic Party,” where Kim Bu-gyeom, Roh Moo-hyun, Lee Bu-young, and Je Jeong-gu were active. He later served as an aide to Representatives Je Jeong-gu and Lee Bu-young. Jo’s life mentor is the late Representative Je Jeong-gu, known as the “godfather of the poor people’s movement.” After serving as a special advisor to presidential candidate Lee Hoi-chang of the Grand National Party in 2002, he joined the Uri Party in 2003, following Representative Lee Bu-young. In the 2004 election for the 17th National Assembly, he was elected in Siheung-si Eul, Gyeonggi-do, and has since been re-elected six consecutive times in that district. During the Lee Myung-bak administration, he earned the nickname “Uncle Frog” after throwing himself onto the Speaker’s podium to block the passage of a bill at a plenary session.

※Click the video to watch the full content.

Jo has held various key party positions, including Provincial Party Chairperson, Chair of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, Policy Committee Chair, and Secretary-General. In 2022, he ran for Gyeonggi Governor but finished fourth. After the inauguration of the Lee Jaemyung administration, he served as Special Political Advisor to the President. After two previous attempts, he finally became the candidate for Speaker of the National Assembly in the second half of the 21st National Assembly, having previously lost to Representative Kim Jin-pyo in the nomination contest.

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