Gangwon Assembly's ruling-party members speak up from day one, vowing 'heavy responsibility'

"It was a meaningful occasion to hear a full overview of assembly activities ahead of a new beginning," said Lee Dong-ho, a newly elected member of the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Assembly. "I felt excitement and a sense of responsibility when I served as a city council member, but being here for the first time as a provincial assembly member made me feel an even greater tension and a heavier weight of responsibility."

Gangwon Province, long regarded as a center-right stronghold, has been shifting toward a center-reformist orientation. The Democratic Party, now the leading force in the province, is expected to bring fresh thinking and careful policy ideas, while the conservative camp — long accustomed to dominance — is anticipated to pursue cross-party cooperation for the province's development with a new sense of humility.

Lee Sang-ho, the mayor-elect of Taebaek and an opposition party member, drew the loudest applause at the assembly of newly elected officials when he declared his intention to work closely with Democratic Party Governor-elect Woo Sang-ho. In a brief but pointed turn of phrase, he said the two would cooperate — playing on the fact that both men share the given name Sang-ho.

The governor's seat went to the ruling party, the provincial assembly is opposition-majority, municipal chiefs lean toward the ruling party, and the cities and counties that backed Governor-elect Woo are split roughly down the middle.

As provincial and municipal offices busied themselves with transition preparations and inauguration planning, the Gangwon Provincial Assembly secretariat recently held an orientation for newly elected assembly members at Sky Convention in Chuncheon.

Lee Dong-ho, a Democratic Party lawmaker, used the words "tension" and "responsibility" to describe his resolve as he prepares to begin work in the new Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Assembly.

The event was organized ahead of the opening of the 12th Provincial Assembly to foster unity and camaraderie among the newly elected members and to share practical knowledge and information needed for their legislative duties.

The newly elected members received briefings on the assembly's general operations and key support provisions, including legislative activity allowances. They then exchanged views on assembly priorities such as the operating plan for the 12th Provincial Assembly and the formation of its committees.

The secretariat used the orientation to provide detailed guidance on various institutional systems and its own operations, ensuring the new members can carry out their legislative duties without disruption from the moment their terms begin.

The provincial assembly plans to complete final preparations for its opening by the end of June and take its first steps in early July.

For the newly elected members, the occasion served as a reminder to approach their roles with broader perspective and a deeper sense of responsibility as representatives of the people of Gangwon and advocates for regional development.

Lee previously served as speaker of the Donghae City Council but is now a first-term provincial assembly member. He attended the orientation with a consistently tense expression throughout. "I will do my best to remain true to my original intentions, always maintain a humble posture of learning, and become a diligent assembly member who lives up to the expectations of residents," he said.