Seoul: Jun Sang-soo, a former deputy secretary general for legislative affairs at the National Assembly Secretariat, has officially submitted his candidacy to become the next secretary general of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), a global association of national parliaments.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Jun’s bid for the position comes as the 181-member IPU prepares to elect a new secretary general during its general assembly in Istanbul next April. The newly elected secretary general will serve a four-year term. The organization’s executive committee is scheduled to review a shortlist of 20 candidates later this year, eventually narrowing it down to five finalists.
National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik has recommended Jun for the position, highlighting the “resiliency” of South Korea’s democracy following the temporary imposition of martial law last year, which was subsequently lifted by the National Assembly. Woo emphasized Jun’s potential to enhance the diversity and inclusivity of the IPU through his leadership in innovation.
Support for Jun’s candidacy also comes from members of the parliamentary Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, including lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties. Rep. Lee Jae-jung of the ruling Democratic Party and Rep. Kim Gunn of the main opposition People Power Party both underscored the significance of the election process. They noted that Jun’s election would mark a historic first, as no secretary general from Asia has been appointed in the IPU’s 136-year history.
Jun, who began his career in public service in 1992, currently serves as an adviser to Samsung Fire and Marine Insurance. His extensive experience includes various roles at the National Assembly Secretariat, such as head of the planning and coordination office and the proceedings bureau.