Suh Chung-won

In this Korean name, the family name is Suh.

Suh Chung-won (Korean: 서청원; Hanja: 徐淸源; born 3 April 1943) is a South Korean politician who served as a member of the National Assembly for eight terms (1981–1985, 1988–2004, 2013–2020). He also served as floor leader of the Our Republican Party. Suh has been in the National Assembly for 32 years, being the second most-elected member.^[1]

Suh Chung-won
서청원
Member of the National Assembly
In office 30 May 2016 – 29 May 2020
Constituency	Hwaseong A
In office 30 October 2013 – 29 May 2016
Preceded by	Go Hui-seon
Constituency	Hwaseong A
In office 30 May 2000 – 29 May 2004
Constituency	Dongjak-gu A
In office 30 May 1996 – 29 May 2000
Constituency	Dongjak-gu A
In office 30 May 1992 – 29 May 1996
Constituency	Dongjak-gu A
In office 30 May 1988 – 29 May 1992
Constituency	Dongjak-gu A
In office 30 May 1981 – 29 May 1985
Constituency	Seoul 11th (Dongjak-gu)
Floor Leader of the Our Republican Party
In office 21 March 2020 – 29 May 2020
Preceded by	Position established
Leader of the Future Hope Alliance
In office 31 March 2010 – 2 February 2012
Preceded by	(Served with Lee Gyu-taek until 30 March 2010)
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Floor Leader of the New Korea Party
In office 1996–1997
Preceded by	Seo Jung-hwa
Succeeded by	Park Hee-tae
Personal details
Born	(1943-04-03) April 3, 1943 (age 81) Ipjang-myeon, Cheonwon-gun, Korea, Empire of Japan
Political party	Our Republican Party
Spouse	Lee Seon-hwa (m. 1969)
Children	2
Alma mater	Chungang University
Korean name
Hangul	서청원
Hanja	徐淸源
Revised Romanization	Seo Cheongweon
McCune–Reischauer	Sŏ Chŏngwŏn

Early life and education

Suh was born in Chūseinan-dō (South Chungcheong Province), Korea, Empire of Japan on April 3, 1943. He graduated from Chungang University with a degree in political science. He actively took part in the June 3 Resistance Movement in 1964. He served in South Korea's mandatory military conscription from December 1966 to October 1969; he served for 34 months in the South Korean military. After serving his time in the military, Suh worked as a reporter for the Chosun Ilbo until 1980. During his time as a reporter, he reported from the front lines of the Gwangju Uprising in 1980.

Political career

Representative of Dongjak-gu (1981–2004)

Suh ran for the Seoul 11th electoral district (now Dongjak-gu A) as a member of the Democratic Korea Party in the 1981 South Korean legislative election. He was elected along with Cho Jong-ho of the ruling Democratic Justice Party. He ran for the same electoral district in 1985, however he wasn't elected.^[2]

Suh ran for the Dongjak District A electoral district as a member of the Reunification Democratic Party in 1988 and was elected. Since his election in 1988, Suh continuously won until 2004.^[3] He was ineligible to participate in the 2004 South Korean legislative election and 2008 South Korean legislative election due to him receiving illegal funds for his campaign previously.^[4]

Alignment with Park Geun-hye (2007–present)

He supported Park Geun-hye becoming the presidential nominee of the Grand National Party national convention in 2007, however Lee Myung-bak was nominated. As a result, Suh created the Future Hope Alliance; a solely pro-Park Geun-hye party in 2010 as his relations with pro-Lee Myung-bak members of the Grand National Party deteriorated.^{[5][unreliable source?]}

Later, the Future Hope Alliance was absorbed back into the Saenuri Party (formerly Grand National Party) in 2012.

Suh ran for the Hwaseong A electoral district during by-elections in 2013 and was elected. Suh served as acting Speaker of the National Assembly until Chung Sye-kyun was elected to the position.^[6]

After the impeachment of Park Geun-hye in 2017, he remained pro-Park Geun-hye which made him unpopular with the anti-Park Geun-hye faction of Saenuri Party. He regularly participates in pro-Park rallies along with Cho Won-jin.^[7]

He joined the Liberty Republican Party on March 21, 2020 and became the Floor Leader of the party. He plans to run in the upcoming 2020 South Korean legislative election.^[8]

Personal life

Suh married his wife Lee Seon-hwa in 1969. Together they have a son and a daughter.