Seoul Assembly member Lee Seong-bae declares bid for deputy speaker

Lee Seong-bae, a Seoul Metropolitan Council member representing the People Power Party from Songpa District 4, has officially declared his candidacy for deputy speaker of the 12th Council's first half. Lee said he is running on a ticket with Kim Gil-young, a PPP member from Gangnam District 6 who is seeking the party's floor leader post, pledging to strengthen internal communication and cooperation and build a "working council" that delivers tangible policy results.

Lee put forward the vision of a "hands-on deputy speaker" as the centerpiece of his campaign. He said the speaker's office should go beyond ceremonial and symbolic duties to actively support members' legislative work and, through coordination with the city administration, produce policy outcomes that residents can feel directly.

"The deputy speaker's role is to back members so they can devote themselves to legislative work for citizens and their communities," Lee said. "I will contribute to raising the role and standing of the Seoul Metropolitan Council by finding answers on the ground and being judged by results."

Lee highlighted his experience serving as PPP floor leader and chair of the budget and settlement special committee during the 11th Seoul Metropolitan Council, where he coordinated party positions and reviewed major city policies and budgets. He said cooperation and communication among members are paramount for smooth council operations under a minority ruling-party arrangement.

"Individual members' capabilities matter, but we also need a support structure that allows the entire council to move as one team," he said. "I will strengthen speaker's-office-level support so that policies identified in standing committees and at local sites can be reflected in city administration and budgets."

He also outlined plans to ensure that no member is left behind in legislative activities regardless of seniority or district, and to create an environment where members can focus on policy development and resolving local issues.

Balanced budget distribution and policy support across Seoul's 25 autonomous districts are among his key campaign pledges. He said he would maintain ongoing communication with members to prevent projects and funding from being concentrated in specific areas, and would serve as a coordinator to ensure each district's issues and residents' needs are reflected evenly in city policy.

"Seoul can achieve genuine development only when all 25 districts grow together," Lee said. "I will work to ensure that budgets and policies are distributed fairly to promote balanced development across districts and improve residents' quality of life."

Lee also stressed his commitment to working in tandem with Kim. The two members plan to draw on their respective legislative experience and practical expertise to gather opinions from within the party and sharpen the council's ability to respond to major Seoul city issues.

"Through close communication between the floor leader and the speaker's office, I will unite the voices of our party's members and strengthen our negotiating power with the city administration on policy," Lee said. "I will pour all my energy into building a council centered on people's livelihoods and policy — one that citizens can trust."