What’s New
Speaker delivers speech at the 145th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly
- Nov 17, 2022
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Speaker Kim Jin-pyo delivers speech at the 145th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly
-'We will strive to build a gender-sensitive parliament'
-Holds meetings with the speakers of Nepal, Georgia, Ghana, and Rwanda as part of efforts to promote Busan’s bid for World Expo 2030; the speakers express their intent to support Busan
-Plans take shape to expand economic cooperation, including construction of a Hyundai Motor plant in Ghana and a Korea-Georgia free-trade agreement
Speaker of the Republic of Korea's National Assembly Kim Jin-pyo, who is in Rwanda to attend the 145th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly, underscored in his speech at the plenary session of the IPU Assembly that Korea's National Assembly is resolved to foster a gender-sensitive parliament. The Assembly was held at the Kigali Convention Center on Oct. 12 local time.
At the plenary session, entitled “Realizing a Parliament of Gender Equality and Gender Sensitivity,” Speaker Kim stated, “The realization of a gender-sensitive parliament is the most powerful engine for advancing an inclusive, gender-sensitive society and an essential step in more effectively overcoming today’s multi-faceted crises threatening the future of humanity.”
Speaker Kim began by outlining the efforts of the ROK National Assembly to expand women’s representation in politics. He highlighted legislation of a gender quota for candidate recommendations for proportional representation at the National Assembly and Provincial Councils (the initial figure of at least 30% of available seats that must be filled by women was raised to 50%) and the legal requirement for recommending at least one female candidate for each local constituency when political parties recommend candidates to Municipal Councils.
The Speaker explained, “Thanks to such efforts, the percentage of female parliamentarians has risen by 21% compared with 2012. The percentage of female members of the Provincial Councils increased by 33.3%, while that of Municipal Councils rose by 50% compared with 2010.” He added that the deputy speaker's seat was filled by a female parliamentarian for both the first and second half of the 21st National Assembly, for the first time in history, and the percentage of women being selected as senior government officials now exceeds 50%.
He continued by saying that 101 National Assembly Members have put forth a resolution on “enhancing women’s representation in the National Assembly, enacting a code of ethics for National Assembly Members on gender equality, and establishing a permanent body to support gender equality within the National Assembly” and are discussing framing the legal grounds for creating an all-women session.
Speaker Kim stressed, “All countries must join hands to continually enhance women’s rights and achieve gender equality in the truest sense. The National Assembly of the Republic of Korea will continue to work hard to make every aspect of our legislative activities gender-sensitive.”
National Assembly Member Yu Eui-dong (People Power Party), who attended the Assembly with Speaker Kim, delivered a speech before the Committee on Sustainable Development entitled “Parliaments’ Efforts to Realize Negative Emissions Through Afforestation.” He discussed Korea’s success at reforesting denuded landscapes, which had been razed during the Korean War, in just three decades, largely through the enactment and reform of laws such as the Framework Act on Forestry and the Creation and Management of Forest Resources Act.
After his speech, Speaker Kim held back-to-back meetings with the Chairperson of the National Assembly of Nepal, Ganesh Timilsina; Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana Alban Bagbin; Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of Rwanda Donatille Mukabalisa; and Chairperson of the Parliament of Georgia Shalva Papuashvili. During these talks, he asked them to support Busan’s bid to host World Expo 2030. All four of these countries are members of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) and directly participate in selecting the World Expo’s host city.
“I believe in Korea’s capabilities to host an international event of such scale and advocate for Busan,” Chairperson Timilsina said. “We Nepali parliamentarians are ready to support Busan as the venue of World Expo 2030.”
Speaker Bagbin requested Korea’s cooperation on the building of smart cities and information and communication technology (ICT), to which Speaker Kim responded that World Expo 2030 in Busan, when realized, would provide real momentum for such cooperation; and Chairperson Papuashvili pledged to convey Speaker Kim’s request to his government.
Speaker Kim also discussed with his counterparts other issues relating to their respective countries.
During his meeting with Chairperson Timilsina, Speaker Kim said, “Korean companies have been directly involved in infrastructure construction projects in Nepal, and the Nepali government’s cooperation on further facilitating their engagement is critical, because large corporations such as Hyundai and Samsung will decide on their future participation based on such developments.”
Chairperson Timilsina responded, “We will ensure that any difficulties that Korean corporations experience are swiftly addressed by directly communicating with the Korean ambassador in Nepal.” Chairperson Timilsina requested that direct flights between Kathmandu and Incheon be expanded, to which Speaker Kim replied he would continue working to do that.
Speaker Kim also proposed deepening cooperation and exchange between the two countries’ legislative bodies. The two parliamentary heads agreed that mutual visits should take place soon.
Speaker Kim then met with Speaker Bagbin and requested the Ghana government’s support for construction of a Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors assembly plant there, a project being carried out under the Ghana Automotive Development Policy.
The Speaker said, “Our two countries must strengthen cooperation to accelerate the digital transformation of Ghana’s public services, build ICT infrastructure, and establish an electronic customs clearance system. We should work to ensure that the governments of our two countries take action to facilitate the participation of capable Korean companies.”
Speaker Kim continued, “I would like to request your cooperation to ensure the attendance of Ghana’s top-ranking officials at the Korea-Africa Summit, scheduled to be held in Korea in 2024. In addition, I would like to express my gratitude for Ghana’s support for Korea’s bid for a seat as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2024-2025 period.”
Speaker Bagbin also proposed the expansion of oil-refining facilities and the formation of an ICT-centered security partnership to counter terrorism, to which Speaker Kim responded that the Korea-Ghana Parliamentary Friendship Group should meet to discuss the matters in depth.
Speaker Kim then visited the Parliament of Rwanda, where he met with Speaker Mukabalisa and called for Rwanda’s support for Busan’s bid to host World Expo 2030.
Speaker Kim said, “I would like to extend my congratulations on the successful staging of the IPU Assembly in Rwanda, a country boasting the world’s highest percentage of female members of a Lower Chamber of parliament. Busan is Korea’s largest port city, has hosted a series of international events, and is evolving into a smart city. As such, it will be an ideal partner to share its knowledge and know-how for the great transformations needed by a developing country.”
Speaker Mukabalisa responded supportively, stating, “Korea has provided much support [to Rwanda] in many sectors including culture, agriculture, and healthcare, as Rwanda’s valued cooperative partner for economic development. I would like to thank Korea for its generous provision of [COVID-19] diagnostic kits and medical supplies during the pandemic. I will take your request into consideration.”
Lastly, Speaker Kim met with Chairperson Papuashvili and proposed seeking ways to put on track the Nenskra Hydropower Plant project, which has been commissioned to the Korea Water Resources Corp. Chairperson Papuashvili responded that he would review the proposal.
Chairperson Papuashvili stated, “Because of the Russia-Ukraine war, Georgia is pushing ahead with construction of a logistics corridor that connects Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia through the Black Sea. We request the active participation of Korean companies in this project.” Speaker Kim expressed keen interest in his request, saying the two countries should further expand bilateral cooperation.
Chairperson Papuashvili added, “We hope the branch office of the Korean Embassy in Tbilisi will be promoted to a full embassy,” to which Speaker Kim responded: “I fully share in your need and will look for ways to fulfill your request as soon as possible.”
Upon Georgia’s request to accelerate the signing the Korea-Georgia free-trade agreement, Speaker Kim said that it would be swiftly reviewed in order to expand technological cooperation between the two countries.
Attendees at the meetings included National Assembly Members Yu Eui-dong (People Power Party), Kim Tae-Nyeon (Democratic Party of Korea), Jin Sun-mee (Democratic Party of Korea), and Park Yong-jin (Democratic Party of Korea); Ambassadorial Adviser to the Speaker Cho Koo-rae; Director General of the International Affairs and Protocol Bureau Hwang Seung-gi; and Secretary for Speechwriting Choi Man-yeong.
-'We will strive to build a gender-sensitive parliament'
-Holds meetings with the speakers of Nepal, Georgia, Ghana, and Rwanda as part of efforts to promote Busan’s bid for World Expo 2030; the speakers express their intent to support Busan
-Plans take shape to expand economic cooperation, including construction of a Hyundai Motor plant in Ghana and a Korea-Georgia free-trade agreement
Speaker of the Republic of Korea's National Assembly Kim Jin-pyo, who is in Rwanda to attend the 145th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly, underscored in his speech at the plenary session of the IPU Assembly that Korea's National Assembly is resolved to foster a gender-sensitive parliament. The Assembly was held at the Kigali Convention Center on Oct. 12 local time.
At the plenary session, entitled “Realizing a Parliament of Gender Equality and Gender Sensitivity,” Speaker Kim stated, “The realization of a gender-sensitive parliament is the most powerful engine for advancing an inclusive, gender-sensitive society and an essential step in more effectively overcoming today’s multi-faceted crises threatening the future of humanity.”
Speaker Kim began by outlining the efforts of the ROK National Assembly to expand women’s representation in politics. He highlighted legislation of a gender quota for candidate recommendations for proportional representation at the National Assembly and Provincial Councils (the initial figure of at least 30% of available seats that must be filled by women was raised to 50%) and the legal requirement for recommending at least one female candidate for each local constituency when political parties recommend candidates to Municipal Councils.
The Speaker explained, “Thanks to such efforts, the percentage of female parliamentarians has risen by 21% compared with 2012. The percentage of female members of the Provincial Councils increased by 33.3%, while that of Municipal Councils rose by 50% compared with 2010.” He added that the deputy speaker's seat was filled by a female parliamentarian for both the first and second half of the 21st National Assembly, for the first time in history, and the percentage of women being selected as senior government officials now exceeds 50%.
He continued by saying that 101 National Assembly Members have put forth a resolution on “enhancing women’s representation in the National Assembly, enacting a code of ethics for National Assembly Members on gender equality, and establishing a permanent body to support gender equality within the National Assembly” and are discussing framing the legal grounds for creating an all-women session.
Speaker Kim stressed, “All countries must join hands to continually enhance women’s rights and achieve gender equality in the truest sense. The National Assembly of the Republic of Korea will continue to work hard to make every aspect of our legislative activities gender-sensitive.”
National Assembly Member Yu Eui-dong (People Power Party), who attended the Assembly with Speaker Kim, delivered a speech before the Committee on Sustainable Development entitled “Parliaments’ Efforts to Realize Negative Emissions Through Afforestation.” He discussed Korea’s success at reforesting denuded landscapes, which had been razed during the Korean War, in just three decades, largely through the enactment and reform of laws such as the Framework Act on Forestry and the Creation and Management of Forest Resources Act.
After his speech, Speaker Kim held back-to-back meetings with the Chairperson of the National Assembly of Nepal, Ganesh Timilsina; Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana Alban Bagbin; Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of Rwanda Donatille Mukabalisa; and Chairperson of the Parliament of Georgia Shalva Papuashvili. During these talks, he asked them to support Busan’s bid to host World Expo 2030. All four of these countries are members of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) and directly participate in selecting the World Expo’s host city.
“I believe in Korea’s capabilities to host an international event of such scale and advocate for Busan,” Chairperson Timilsina said. “We Nepali parliamentarians are ready to support Busan as the venue of World Expo 2030.”
Speaker Bagbin requested Korea’s cooperation on the building of smart cities and information and communication technology (ICT), to which Speaker Kim responded that World Expo 2030 in Busan, when realized, would provide real momentum for such cooperation; and Chairperson Papuashvili pledged to convey Speaker Kim’s request to his government.
Speaker Kim also discussed with his counterparts other issues relating to their respective countries.
During his meeting with Chairperson Timilsina, Speaker Kim said, “Korean companies have been directly involved in infrastructure construction projects in Nepal, and the Nepali government’s cooperation on further facilitating their engagement is critical, because large corporations such as Hyundai and Samsung will decide on their future participation based on such developments.”
Chairperson Timilsina responded, “We will ensure that any difficulties that Korean corporations experience are swiftly addressed by directly communicating with the Korean ambassador in Nepal.” Chairperson Timilsina requested that direct flights between Kathmandu and Incheon be expanded, to which Speaker Kim replied he would continue working to do that.
Speaker Kim also proposed deepening cooperation and exchange between the two countries’ legislative bodies. The two parliamentary heads agreed that mutual visits should take place soon.
Speaker Kim then met with Speaker Bagbin and requested the Ghana government’s support for construction of a Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors assembly plant there, a project being carried out under the Ghana Automotive Development Policy.
The Speaker said, “Our two countries must strengthen cooperation to accelerate the digital transformation of Ghana’s public services, build ICT infrastructure, and establish an electronic customs clearance system. We should work to ensure that the governments of our two countries take action to facilitate the participation of capable Korean companies.”
Speaker Kim continued, “I would like to request your cooperation to ensure the attendance of Ghana’s top-ranking officials at the Korea-Africa Summit, scheduled to be held in Korea in 2024. In addition, I would like to express my gratitude for Ghana’s support for Korea’s bid for a seat as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2024-2025 period.”
Speaker Bagbin also proposed the expansion of oil-refining facilities and the formation of an ICT-centered security partnership to counter terrorism, to which Speaker Kim responded that the Korea-Ghana Parliamentary Friendship Group should meet to discuss the matters in depth.
Speaker Kim then visited the Parliament of Rwanda, where he met with Speaker Mukabalisa and called for Rwanda’s support for Busan’s bid to host World Expo 2030.
Speaker Kim said, “I would like to extend my congratulations on the successful staging of the IPU Assembly in Rwanda, a country boasting the world’s highest percentage of female members of a Lower Chamber of parliament. Busan is Korea’s largest port city, has hosted a series of international events, and is evolving into a smart city. As such, it will be an ideal partner to share its knowledge and know-how for the great transformations needed by a developing country.”
Speaker Mukabalisa responded supportively, stating, “Korea has provided much support [to Rwanda] in many sectors including culture, agriculture, and healthcare, as Rwanda’s valued cooperative partner for economic development. I would like to thank Korea for its generous provision of [COVID-19] diagnostic kits and medical supplies during the pandemic. I will take your request into consideration.”
Lastly, Speaker Kim met with Chairperson Papuashvili and proposed seeking ways to put on track the Nenskra Hydropower Plant project, which has been commissioned to the Korea Water Resources Corp. Chairperson Papuashvili responded that he would review the proposal.
Chairperson Papuashvili stated, “Because of the Russia-Ukraine war, Georgia is pushing ahead with construction of a logistics corridor that connects Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia through the Black Sea. We request the active participation of Korean companies in this project.” Speaker Kim expressed keen interest in his request, saying the two countries should further expand bilateral cooperation.
Chairperson Papuashvili added, “We hope the branch office of the Korean Embassy in Tbilisi will be promoted to a full embassy,” to which Speaker Kim responded: “I fully share in your need and will look for ways to fulfill your request as soon as possible.”
Upon Georgia’s request to accelerate the signing the Korea-Georgia free-trade agreement, Speaker Kim said that it would be swiftly reviewed in order to expand technological cooperation between the two countries.
Attendees at the meetings included National Assembly Members Yu Eui-dong (People Power Party), Kim Tae-Nyeon (Democratic Party of Korea), Jin Sun-mee (Democratic Party of Korea), and Park Yong-jin (Democratic Party of Korea); Ambassadorial Adviser to the Speaker Cho Koo-rae; Director General of the International Affairs and Protocol Bureau Hwang Seung-gi; and Secretary for Speechwriting Choi Man-yeong.
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