National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun chose Kim Kyo-heung, a former lawmaker and his current chief secretary, as the next secretary-general. He will succeed Rep. Woo Yoon-keun, who was formally appointed Wednesday as the ambassador to Russia.

“Kim has played an important role in drawing out cooperation among political parties, regularizing the meetings among floor leaders of the political parties and the speaker,” Chung explained. “He worked to run the parliament productively and efficiently and is fit for the job.”


Kim was born in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, in 1960 and majored in political science and diplomacy at Incheon National University and obtained his Ph.D. in international politics from Dongguk University.

He was a member of the National Assembly from 2004 to 2008 and also the deputy mayor of Incheon before he came back to the parliament in 2016.

His appointment requires a parliamentary vote, which will take place a plenary session slated for Nov. 1.

(herim@heraldcorp.com)