Posted on : Jun.20,2006 10:01 KST
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Lim Chae-jeong
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Journalist-turned-lawmaker looks to revise constitution
South Korea’s new parliamentary speaker, Lim Chae-jeong, said he will aggressively pursue calls for a revision in constitutional laws, saying, “preparations are needed to research a constitution fit for the 21st century.”
After being elected as speaker of the National Assembly on June 19 with overwhelming support, the 64-year-old Speaker Lim asked lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties to join forces to deal with the matter of revising some of the country’s institutions.
“After democratization, we should lead political and national development through mature political culture and institutions,” Lim said in his first remark after winning the seat.
“I will play a leading role in carrying out a politics of [social] integration,” he said.
In 1969, Speaker Lim began his career as a journalist at the Dong-a Ilbo newspaper, but his journalistic life was cut short by the military regime in power at that time. In 1975, when military rulers strengthened their grip on the country, Speaker Lim was fired for being part of the movement to seek freedom of the press. From that moment, Speaker Lim devoted himself to the fight for South Korea’s democratization and reunification with the North by taking on various roles for a number of leading dissident organizations. During this period, he was jailed for 18 months for being a leader of the democracy movement.
In 1998, Speaker Lim entered politics by joining the Peace Democratic Party, led by soon-to-be president Kim Dae-jung. The party at that time had 98 members. Kim Dae-jung was defeated in the 1987 presidential election, only to win five years later.
During the 14th parliamentary election in 1992, Speaker Lim was elected as a lawmaker after a four-month reexamination of votes, as the initial tally suggested his defeat. He is now in his fourth term as a lawmaker, nicknamed both "relief pitcher" and "strategist" in political circles for the various roles he plays.
In July 1995, Speaker Lim played a key role in establishing a political party called the National Convention for New Politics, and played a large part in President Roh Moo-hyun’s election victory in 2002.
In 2005, Lim gained a strong reputation for stabilizing the ruling Uri Party even as other key party members, such as then-party leader Lee Boo-young and then-floor leader Cheon Jeong-bae, resigned over reform failures.
Profile:
Born in Najoo, South Jeolla Province
Graduated from the law department of Korea University
Policymakers for the National Convention for New Politics, the New Millennium Democratic Party
Head of 16th handover advisory committee for the new President
Former Chairman of Uri Party
