Unlikely political ‘Thor’ emerges from South Korea’s martial law crisis

Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik’s adherence to constitutional procedure was key in overturning the president’s martial law decree and making troops stand down.

Seoul – South Korea’s National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik has emerged as an unlikely symbol of leadership during the country’s ongoing political turmoil, triggered by President Yoon Suk-yeol’s brief declaration of martial law on December 3.

Despite holding South Korea’s second-highest office after the presidency, the assembly’s speaker has historically had a low-profile role, operating behind the scenes of political life.

Unlike the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, who drives Washington’s legislative agenda as the leader of the majority party, South Korea’s parliamentary speaker is required by law to renounce party affiliation upon election to maintain neutrality. The majority of speakers also retire after their term.

But Woo’s decisive yet measured actions throughout the recent crisis appear to have upended the traditional view of the speaker and their role.

“Seeing someone like him step up and act decisively in such a critical moment was refreshing,” Yoo Junghoon, a lawyer and political columnist, told Al Jazeera.