Seoul – South Korean Parliament Speaker Woo Won-shik has emerged as an unmistakable symbol of leadership amid the country's political upheaval, sparked by the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol. declaration of martial law on December 3.
Although he holds the second position in South Korea after the presidency, the speaker of the assembly has been involved in a low-profile role, working in secret political activities.
Unlike the speaker of the United States House of Representatives, who runs the legislature in Washington as the leader of the majority party, the speaker of the South Korean parliament is required by law to abstain from political affiliation in elections. Most of the speakers also retire after their work.
But Woo's actions are sure but measured in the recent crisis seems to have elevated the traditional view of the speaker and their role.
“To see someone like him step up and act quickly in such a difficult time was refreshing,” Yoo Junghoon, a lawyer and political columnist, told Al Jazeera.
“It allowed voters – young and old – to realize that such talented politicians still exist,” Yoo said.
South Korean youth gave Woo the nickname “National Assembly Thor” – a nod to his role as a Marvel superhero wielding his mighty hammer.
A recent Gallup Korea poll showed that 56 percent of respondents trusted Woo, an unusual number in a country where confidence in the National Assembly has dropped to 20.6 percent, according to another poll. OECD 2024 study.
An educated critic of the 'Thor' of the legal system
As a young student, Woo was imprisoned for three years after protesting against the dictatorship that extended martial law in 1980, following the assassination of President Park Chung-hee in 1979.
The crackdown culminated in the Gwangju massacre of May 1980.
After President Yoon declared martial law on the night of December 3, 67-year-old Woo climbed the wall of the National Assembly after police barricaded the door to prevent lawmakers from entering and voting in violation of the President's order.
“I knew we had the power to lift martial law,” Woo later recalled at a press conference.
“I didn't hesitate. I had to go inside the meeting, no matter what,” he said.
Even as South Korea's special forces advance on the convention center, Woo has insisted on following the rule of law even as concerned politicians have pressured him to speed up the process by cutting several corners.
“At times like this, following the right path without making a mistake is very important,” Woo told his worried colleagues in the surrounding conference room.
At one point, the soldiers almost entered the main room where the lawmakers were voting, which caused chaos with the staff of the meeting.
The crucial vote went ahead, with all 190 lawmakers present – of the 300-seat Assembly – voting in favor of ending martial law.
“There was a lot on social media asking why (Woo) was willing to follow the rules,” said Yoo, a political columnist.
“But now, even the critics (against President Yoon) can't find fault with what he followed,” Yoo said.
Bong Young-shik, a researcher at Yonsei University's Institute for North Korean Studies, attributed the peaceful resolution of the crisis, with no civilian casualties, to Woo's emphasis on strict adherence to the constitution.
“In the most unexpected and painful circumstances, both conservatives and progressives found Woo trustworthy,” Bong said.
“We saw that this approach worked the way we wanted it to,” he said.
'South Korea is strong. His people are stable'
Woo also followed the rules for the first time, failed to vote for President Yoonon December 7, for declaring martial law and putting the country in trouble.
With Yoon's ruling party suspending the vote to prevent opposition, Woo kept the legislative session open for hours, which was unusual, to encourage politicians to return and fulfill their voting obligations.
Two MPs from the ruling party returned to the room to vote.
Woo closed the session at around 9:20pm, explaining that he could not let the protesters, who had gathered outside the meeting in the freezing cold to demand that Yoon be charged, wait forever.
Prior to win, challenge again A week after the vote, Woo called for a return to all aspects of life in South Korea and for people to move forward together.
“I hope your end of the year will be a happy one,” Woo said at the time, encouraging South Koreans to resume Christmas celebrations and gatherings, recalling the challenges that small businesses face during the most important time of the year.
“His words had meaning immediately,” said Yoo, a political columnist.
Woo has acknowledged his rise through the ranks and the fame he's gained, but modestly.
“I heard young people calling me 'National Assembly Thor'. I find it funny,” he said at a recent press conference.
He said that the new interest he got in the role of political speaker was not due to himself, but because of the efforts of the legislators of the assembly, the workers, and the citizens who are working.
When asked about his future aspirations, including what he would like to become president, Woo rejected the idea.
Instead, he emphasized the need for constitutional reform to end the instability that has plagued South Korea's leadership since it became a democracy in 1987.
“Our current law, written in 1987, is outdated,” he said, adding that it needs “changes that reflect the cultural changes of the past four decades”.
Woo also had a message for people around the world who watched in shock as South Korean troops were deployed during President Yoon's brief declaration of martial law.
“South Korea is strong. Its people are strong,” he said.
“Although the world was shocked by the declaration of martial law, South Korea remains safe, stable and reliable in the future,” he said.