SEOUL, July 13 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's parliament on Friday elected speaker and two vice speakers for the second half of the 20th unicameral assembly's four-year term.
Moon Hae-sang, a six-term lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party, was elected National Assembly speaker whose term will last until May 2020.
Lee Ju-young, a five-term legislator of the main conservative opposition Liberty Korea Party, and Joo Seung-yong, a four-term lawmaker of the minor conservative Bareun Future Party, were elected vice speakers for the second half of the 20th National Assembly.
The ruling party member took the speak position, while the second- and third-biggest parties earned the posts of vice speaker, in accordance with the parliamentary custom.
The elections ended the parliamentary leadership vacuum that had lasted for 45 days. On Tuesday, the ruling and opposition parties agreed to form the parliamentary leadership and fill the chairs of 18 standing committees.
Under the Tuesday agreement, the governing party will chair eight committees, while the second- and third-biggest parties will lead seven and two panels, respectively. A joint negotiation bloc of two minor parties will have the chair post of one committee.
The unicameral assembly will open a plenary session next Monday to elect the chairs of the standing committees.
