Woo Won-shik

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In this Korean name, the family name is Woo.
Woo Won-shik
우원식
Woo in 2023
Member of the National Assembly
Assumed office
30 May 2012
Preceded byKwon Young-jin
In office
30 May 2004 – 29 May 2008
Preceded byIm Chae-jung
Succeeded byKwon Young-jin
ConstituencyNowon B (Seoul)
Personal details
Born (1957-09-18) 18 September 1957 (age 66)
Seoul, South Korea
CitizenshipSouth Korean
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materYonsei University
Website우원식.kr
Woo Won-shik
Hangul
우원식
Hanja
禹元植
Revised RomanizationU Wonsik
McCune–ReischauerU Wŏnsik

Woo Won-shik (Korean: 우원식; Hanja: 禹元植; born 18 September 1957) is a South Korean politician in the liberal Democratic Party of Korea, who has been a member of the National Assembly for Nowon, Seoul, since 2012. He previously represented the same constituency between 2004 and 2008.

Early life[edit]

Woo was born in Seoul in 1957 and studied civil engineering at Yonsei University,[1] later receiving a master's degree in environmental studies from the same university.[2] He was arrested and sentenced to three years of penal labor under the Chun Doo-hwan regime in 1981 for taking part in protests demanding Chun's resignation.[1]

Political career[edit]

Woo was elected to the National Assembly in 2004 as an Uri Party candidate in the Nowon B constituency in Seoul. Early in his Assembly career, Woo pressed for the abolition of South Korea's National Security Law,[3] and attacked the Supreme Court in 2004 for backing the permanence of the law.[4] Later, in 2007, he criticized the U.S. armed forces in Korea for the poor environmental conditions on American military bases.[citation needed] He ran unsuccessfully for chairman of the United New Democratic Party in the leadership election on 10 January 2008, losing to Sohn Hak-kyu.[5] He lost his seat in the 2008 elections, but stood successfully in the next elections in 2012.[1]

As an assemblyman, Woo has been active in promoting labor rights.[2] He is a member of the Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee.[6] In 2007, he presided over the unanimous approval of a bill to allow academics at private universities to organize unions.[7] Following his re-entry to the Assembly, in 2013 he established the Committee for Improving the Standing of the Have-Nots or "Euljiro Committee", a group that mediates industrial disputes and works to protect workers' rights. He has served as the Committee's chairman since its founding.[2][8]

Woo has served in a number of important positions in the Democratic Party and its predecessors, including deputy floor leader and deputy secretary general.[2] He is seen as independent of the party's pro–Roh Moo-hyun and Jeolla factions.[9] Woo also acted as opposition administrator of the special hearing committee to vet the appointment of Hwang Kyo-ahn as Prime Minister in May–June 2015, with the Dong-A Ilbo describing him at this time as having a "strong, steely character".[10]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "서울 노원을 더불어민주당 우원식" [Woo Won-shik, Minjoo Party of Korea, Seoul Nowon B]. Focus News (in Korean). 14 April 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d "Rep. Woo Won-shik Credited for Protecting Rights of Subcontractors". News World. 25 September 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  3. ^ "Criminal code to replace security law". Korea JoongAng Daily. 17 October 2004. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  4. ^ "Uri lawmakers challenge top court on security law". Korea JoongAng Daily. 3 September 2004. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  5. ^ "Sohn is chairman of liberal party: Election marks shift to the right". Korea JoongAng Daily. 11 January 2008. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  6. ^ "Members Profile". National Assembly. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  7. ^ "Private universities oppose professors' union". The Hankyoreh. 7 May 2007. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  8. ^ "Late in its run, film on deceased Samsung worker gets more screens". The Hankyoreh. 4 March 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  9. ^ "Main opposition party moves toward center to regain stability". The Korea Herald. 6 May 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  10. ^ "PM-nominee Hwang Kyo-ahn nomination motion submitted". The Dong-A Ilbo. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
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