Korea elects its oldest-ever National Assembly

General election 2024

Published: 12 Apr. 2024, 16:23 Updated: 15 Apr. 2024, 17:01

Korea elects its oldest-ever National Assembly

From left: Democratic Party (DP) Rep. Jeon Yong-gi, who is 32 years old and the youngest legislator-elect in the April 20 general election; DP's Park Jie-won, former head of Korea's National Intelligence Service, who is the oldest among the elected candidates at 81 years old [NEWS1]

The average age of the 300 elected candidates in the April 10 general election is 56.3 years, with the age gap between the oldest and the youngest legislator-elects standing at 49 years, according to data compiled by the National Election Commission.

It is the country's oldest-ever legislature, with the previous record being the 20th National Assembly's average of 55.5.

The average age of the outgoing 21st National Assembly, elected in 2020, was 54.9 years.

The oldest among the elected candidates is the Democratic Party (DP)'s big-name politician Park Jie-won, former head of Korea's National Intelligence Service and a four-term lawmaker who will be serving his fifth starting in May. Born in 1942, Park will turn 82 in June.

The youngest is fellow DP candidate Jeon Yong-gi, now going for his second term in parliament. Born in 1991, Rep. Jeon secured a seat in the 21st National Assembly in 2020 through party-list proportional representation, and will join the new National Assembly representing Hwaseong-D District in Gyeonggi.

Among the newly elected parliamentary members, 150, or 50 percent, are in their 50s. Those in their 60s account for one-third, or 100 members.

Meanwhile, there are 30 elected candidates in their 40s, 14 in their 30s, five in their 70s, and one, Park of the DP, in his 80s. There will be no 20-somethings in the incoming parliament.

In terms of the number of elected terms, there will be 131 newcomers, 80 members will begin their second term, 47 their third term, 24 their fourth term and 14 undergoing their fifth.

Four will serve their sixth term: former DP leader and Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae and Rep. Cho Jung-sik from the DP, and Rep. Cho Kyoung-tae and Rep. Ju Ho-young of the People Power Party (PPP).

The latest election saw the largest number of female winners with 60, accounting for 20 percent. The previous record was 57 in the 2020 general election.

By profession, there are 143 incumbent lawmakers, 80 politicians and 23 lawyers.

Exactly 157 members have master’s degrees, making up over 50 percent of the total. There are 29 members who completed graduate coursework, and 100 with bachelor’s degrees.

The richest member of the 22nd National Assembly is the PPP’s Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, who reported a net worth of 140.1 billion won ($102 million). Ahn, a software mogul-turned-politician, is a three-term lawmaker going for his fourth. He is also the incumbent in the Bundang-A District in Gyeonggi.

Another PPP member, Rep. Park Duk-hyum, is the second richest with a net worth of 56.3 billion won, followed by the PPP's Rep. Baek Jong-heon with 35.6 billion won, the DP’s Park Jeung with 35.2 billion won and the PPP’s Park Soo-min with 31.6 billion won.

Meanwhile, 86 of the members had at least one criminal record, constituting 29 percent of the total.

BY SHIN HA-NEE [shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr]