Lawmakers in the 22nd National Assembly include its youngest member, Lee So-hee of the People Power Party. After former lawmaker In Yo-han resigned, Lee entered the Assembly most recently on Jan. 12 by succeeding to the proportional representation seat according to the list order. After taking the oath at the National Assembly plenary session on Jan. 15, Lee said, "I will stand before the public with responsibility over greed and with results over political strife."
Born in 1986, Lee became paralyzed in the lower body at 14 due to a medical accident, left middle school, and underwent three years of inpatient treatment. She later passed the qualification exam, entered the Department of Law at Ewha Womans University, graduated from the Law School of Kyungpook National University, and passed the 6th bar exam.
Before coming to the National Assembly, Lee was known as a "lawyer who uses a wheelchair." Living with a physical disability, Lee has spoken up for the rights of people with disabilities and the socially vulnerable. In particular, she ran a YouTube channel and posted many Shorts-focused daily-life videos such as "How to load a wheelchair into a car by yourself," "Meltdown while trying to find an accessible restroom," and "Opening a door alone while using a wheelchair." In the Assembly, she was assigned to the Culture. Sports. and Tourism Committee.
In a written interview with ChosunBiz, Lee said, "Rather than personal joy at succeeding to the Assembly seat, a sense of responsibility weighs more heavily on what role I should play in the face of hardships in people's livelihoods," adding, "While working as a lawyer, I felt that even when laws exist, they often do not function properly in reality. I want to focus on supplementing the gap between law and reality through policy in the Assembly to bring about changes that the public can feel."
◇"We will improve systems for type 1 diabetes… and support public-interest content"
Lee entered politics by serving as a youth adviser and special adviser on women in the campaign of presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol during the 2022 20th presidential election. In the local elections the same year, she was elected as a Sejong City council member through the People Power Party's proportional representation. The following year, she joined the core of the party's reform discussions as a legal advisory committee member under the "Kim Gi-hyeon leadership," a member of the "In Yo-han reform committee," and a special committee member on organizational reinforcement.
Representing the identity of "women, people with disabilities, and youth," Lee emphasized, "Representation can be a starting point, but it must not become a limit." Her assessment is that "politics must not be constrained on the grounds of representing a particular group." Lee said, "The way we look at women, youth, and people with disabilities also needs to change," adding, "What is needed is not protection but opportunities to choose and challenge on one's own. Politics that keeps the vulnerable in a vulnerable position can ultimately create another limit."
During her term, Lee picked improving systems related to type 1 diabetes as the first task she wants to tackle. Lee said, "After first encountering the issue of type 1 diabetes while serving as a Sejong City council member, I learned that structural challenges are intertwined that are hard to solve through individual effort alone," adding, "Because this requires system design at the national level—covering the education field, medical accessibility, expense burdens, and a lack of understanding at schools and workplaces—I will help strengthen systems and improve social awareness."
Citing Sugar, a recently released film about type 1 diabetes, Lee outlined the roles and direction she wants to pursue on the culture committee. "While it is meaningful that content carrying a public-interest message helped broaden social consensus, the short screening period was disappointing," Lee said. "I will explore ways to provide institutional support for public-interest content across production, distribution, screening, and promotion on the culture committee."
◇"Politics that answers with results over words and responsibility over political strife"
Regarding starting legislative work as the party undergoes internal strife, Lee said, "I am well aware that party members are deeply sighing ahead of the local elections," adding, "It is time to seek a political solution so that conflict does not further spiral into catastrophe. I want to help reduce internal conflict, properly keep the Democratic Party in check as the main opposition, and focus on people's livelihoods."
On former lawmaker In's message upon resigning that "we must break free from black-and-white and factional logic," Lee said she "agrees," adding, "Rather than judging right and wrong in ideology, what matters more is what solutions will actually help people's lives now." Lee said, "We will cut back on words that fuel political strife and build trust with practical results, contributing to national unity."
Finally, Lee said, "At times, the National Assembly seems to have a culture that prioritizes visibility over assigned roles. Now we need a culture in which each person fulfills their assigned responsibility to the end, rather than resorting to political strife or grandiose words," adding, "I will do politics that answers with results over words and responsibility over political strife. Rather than putting grandiose words first, I will carry through with the work I must do in the role I have."