The Seoul Metropolitan Council held a plenary session Tuesday afternoon and elected Im Man-gyun, a Democratic Party lawmaker representing Gwanak, as speaker for the first half of the 12th council term.
Im won 113 of 117 votes in the speakership election, which Kim Ki-deok, the council's longest-serving member with five terms, presided over.
In his acceptance remarks, Im said he felt "a heavy sense of responsibility more than the joy of being elected" and pledged to be "a speaker who takes responsibility rather than wielding authority."
He added that "each and every lawmaker is the main actor of this council and shares a common destiny," and that he would "uphold principles, maintain open communication and serve all 118 lawmakers well, especially when interests clash."
Im also thanked Kim Ki-deok for presiding smoothly over the speakership election.
The council then held a deputy speakership election under Im's chairmanship, choosing Seong Heum-je of the Democratic Party, who represents Eunpyeong, with 112 of 118 votes.
The council was also proceeding with a separate election for a second deputy speaker post, for which People Power Party lawmaker Lee Seong-bae is the candidate.
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