Nat`l Assembly gets 1st speaker from Chungcheong area

Six-time lawmaker Kang Chang-hee of the ruling Saenuri Party was appointed National Assembly speaker Friday, the first from the Chungcheong provinces to assume the post.

Kang, a key figure of a party faction loyal to leading presidential contender Park Geun-hye, beat Rep. Chung Ui-hwa from Busan with 88 votes (64.7 percent) in the party’s meeting of lawmakers. Chung gained 48 votes.

Conventionally, a figure nominated by the ruling party is elected speaker at a parliamentary plenary session by secret ballot. If confirmed in the plenary session, Kang will be the first National Assembly speaker hailing from the Chungcheong provinces.

Four-time lawmaker Lee Byung-seok from Pohang, a supporter of President Lee Myung-bak, was chosen as the candidate for vice speaker.

A parliamentary plenary session is scheduled for Tuesday to elect the National Assembly speaker and vice speaker, but a delay is likely due to objections from the main opposition Democratic United Party. The latter said it will not agree to open the session if its request on the allocation of steering committee chairmen is rejected.

gaea@donga.com