우원식 禹元植
Five-term lawmaker and politician who served as Speaker of the National Assembly in the first half of the 22nd Assembly
| Life | 1957 |
| Era | 현대 |
| Clan | 단양 우씨 |
Life & career
U Won-sik (born 1957) is a South Korean politician of the Danyang clan. He is a member of the National Assembly for the 17th, 19th, 20th, 21st and 22nd terms, and has served as a member of the 4th Seoul Metropolitan Council, floor leader of the Democratic Party in the 20th Assembly, and Speaker of the National Assembly in the first half of the 22nd Assembly. Born in Sindang-dong, Seoul, he graduated from Kyungdong High School and entered the Department of Civil Engineering at Yonsei University.
In 1977, as president of Yonsei's Christian student association, he joined the student movement and was drafted early, entering the army in 1978 and being discharged as a sergeant in 1980. In March 1981 he was arrested on charges of leading protests against the Chun Doo-hwan government, sentenced to three years for violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act and expelled from Yonsei, graduating in 1996 after 21 years. In 1987-88 he ran a bookshop near Yonsei. He then entered politics and was elected to the Seoul city council in the first local elections of 1995; he took part as a resident committee member in the Sanggye-dong waste incinerator dispute in Nowon, and is credited with helping reach a residents' agreement in 1996.
In the National Assembly he represented Nowon in Seoul, and he is credited with founding the Democratic Party's Euljiro Committee, which handled livelihood issues such as franchise stores, subcontracting, irregular workers and parcel delivery. In 2016 he chaired the special investigative committee on the humidifier disinfectant case, was elected floor leader in May 2017 and served until May 2018. In May 2024 he was chosen as candidate for Speaker in the first half of the 22nd Assembly and on 5 June was formally elected. Political assessments differ widely between supporters and opponents, so this page introduces his record in a neutral way.
Student Movement and Local Council
He joined the student movement in 1977 as head of Yonsei's Christian student association and was arrested in 1981 over protests. He began his political career as a Seoul councilor in 1995.
Lawmaker and Floor Leader
A lawmaker from the 17th to the 22nd Assembly, he served as floor leader from May 2017 to May 2018.
Speaker of the National Assembly
He was chosen as candidate in May 2024 and elected Speaker at the first plenary session on 5 June. U Sang-ho is another politician of the same clan.
Grave
Not applicable, as he is living.