National Assembly elects new leaders

Park Hee-tae New National Assembly Speaker

Park Hee-tae, a six-term lawmaker, has been elected the new speaker of the National Assembly, in a plenary session, Tuesday. He replaces Kim Hyong-o.

Park was the only candidate running for parliamentary leadership, which typically goes to the majority party under a bipartisan agreement. He won 236 of 249 votes cast.

He will lead the National Assembly without party affiliation for the two-year remainder of the 18th National Assembly as the speaker is prohibited from having party membership. 

A native of Namhae, South Gyeongsang Province, Park previously worked as a prosecutor. He is known for his sharp tongue.