Chun returns to parliament with humble attitude

Chun Jung-bae, an independent lawmaker elected in the April 29 by-election after bolting out of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy, reported his return to the parliament Wednesday, handing out glutinous rice cakes with a message reading, "I will work hard with the attitude of a first-term lawmaker, keeping my heart that throbbed 20 years ago when I first became a member of the National Assembly."

Although he is now a fifth-term lawmaker, he showed a humble attitude, emphasizing his mindset as a "beginner."

After being elected in the West B electrical district in Gwangju, the NPAD`s home turf, Chun said he would compete with the main opposition party by gathering people who would succeed to the legacies of the late former President Kim Dae-jung.

Chun will likely be assigned to the National Assembly`s Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs Committee. He told a Dong-A Ilbo reporter that a new lawmaker elected through a by-election would usually be assigned to a committee his or her predecessor belonged to and that he had applied for the same committee as his top preference.

Later on the day, Chun paid a courtesy visit to Lee Hee-ho, the widow of the late former President Kim.

He plans to visit the April 19th National Cemetery, Kim`s grave at the Seoul National Cemetery and the joint incense-burning alter for the victims of the sunken ferry Sewol on Thursday.

constant25@donga.com