Kim Moon-soo (politician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kim Moon-soo
김문수
Kim in 2024
Minister of Employment and Labour
In office August 30, 2024 – April 8, 2025
President	Yoon Suk Yeol Han Duck-soo (acting) Choi Sang-mok (acting)
Prime Minister	Han Duck-soo Choi Sang-mok (acting)
Preceded by	Lee Jung-sik
Succeeded by	Vacant
Governor of Gyeonggi Province
In office July 1, 2006 – June 30, 2014
Preceded by	Sohn Hak-kyu
Succeeded by	Nam Kyung-pil
Member of the National Assembly
In office May 30, 1996 – April 24, 2006
Preceded by	Park Kyu-sik
Succeeded by	Cha Myong-jin
Constituency	Sosa (Bucheon)
Personal details
Born	(1951-08-27) August 27, 1951 (age 73) Yeongcheon, North Gyeongsang, South Korea
Political party	People Power
Other political affiliations	Liberty Unification Party (2020) Liberty Korea (until 2020) New Korea Party (1995–1997) Democratic Liberal Party (1994–1995) Popular Party (1990–1992)
Spouse	Seol Nan-young ​ (m. 1981)​
Education	Seoul National University (BA)
Signature

Kim Moon-soo (Hangul: 김문수; born August 27, 1951) is a South Korean politician who has held important roles in government. He was once a labor activist, working to improve conditions for workers. From 2024 to 2025, he served as the Minister of Employment and Labour. He is also the candidate for the People Power Party in the upcoming 2025 South Korean presidential election.

Born in Yeongcheon, Kim Moon-soo attended Seoul National University. During his university years, he was involved in student protests against the government of the time. Because of his activism, he faced difficulties, including being expelled from university twice. He continued his work as a labor activist, advocating for workers' rights. In 1990, he helped start the Popular Party, marking the beginning of his political career.

In 1996, Kim Moon-soo was elected to the National Assembly, which is like South Korea's parliament. He represented the Sosa District in Bucheon. He served three terms as a member of the National Assembly. Later, in 2006, he was elected by popular vote to be the Governor of Gyeonggi Province, a large province surrounding Seoul. He served as governor from 2006 to 2014.

More recently, after some political changes in South Korea, Kim Moon-soo launched his campaign for the People Power Party's presidential nomination in April 2025. He won the nomination, becoming his party's official candidate for president.

Early Life and Education

Kim Moon-soo was born on August 27, 1951, in Yeongcheon, a city in North Gyeongsang Province. He was the sixth of seven children in his family. After finishing elementary school in Yeongcheon, he moved to Daegu to attend Gyeongbuk Middle School and Gyeongbuk High School.

In 1970, he began studying Business Administration at Seoul National University. However, his studies were interrupted in 1974 because he was involved in student movements. Around this time, he was deeply affected by the story of Jeon Tae-il, a factory worker who sacrificed himself to protest poor working conditions. This inspired Kim Moon-soo to work as a disguised worker in a factory complex in Guro District, Seoul, to understand the struggles of laborers firsthand. He eventually completed his degree from Seoul National University in 1994, 25 years after he first enrolled.

Labor Activism and Advocacy

Kim Moon-soo dedicated many years to improving the lives of workers. In 1974, he worked in a fabric plant, learning about the challenges faced by factory employees. He even earned national licenses related to environmental and safety management, showing his commitment to safe workplaces. In 1978, he was elected as a labor union leader for a metal workers' trade union.

His activism sometimes led to difficulties with the government. In 1981, Kim Moon-soo married Seol Nan-young, who was also a labor activist and union leader. She had previously helped him by providing shelter when he was trying to avoid arrest for his activities.

In 1985, Kim Moon-soo became the secretary of the Jeon Tae-il Memorial Society, which honored the worker who had inspired him. In 1986, he was involved in a major protest in Incheon that called for a direct election system for the president, a significant step towards democracy. For his role in this movement, he was imprisoned for two and a half years. He was released in 1988 after receiving a special pardon.

Political Journey

Serving in the National Assembly (1996–2006)

Kim Moon-soo officially entered politics in 1990 when he helped establish the Popular Party. He served as the head of their Labor Relations Committee. He first ran for election to the National Assembly in 1992 but was not successful.

In 1994, he joined the Democratic Liberal Party (which later became the New Korea Party). In the 1996 election, he ran as a candidate for the New Korea Party and was successfully elected to the National Assembly.

As a member of the National Assembly, Kim Moon-soo focused on important issues like labor rights, environmental protection, transportation in the Seoul area, and childcare. He was re-elected twice, serving three terms in total. He also held a leadership position as the deputy floor leader for the Grand National Party (which later became the Liberty Korea Party).

His work in the National Assembly earned him several awards, including the Green Politician Award in 1996 for his environmental efforts, and awards for his legislative work on labor issues and helping children in need.

Leading Gyeonggi Province (2006–2014)

In 2006, Kim Moon-soo decided to leave the National Assembly to run for a local government position. He was elected as the Governor of Gyeonggi Province, taking office in July 2006. Gyeonggi Province is a very important region in South Korea, surrounding the capital city of Seoul. He served as governor for eight years.

In April 2012, while still governor, Kim Moon-soo announced his intention to run for president in the primary election of the Saenuri Party (another name for the Liberty Korea Party). He believed that the party's nomination should be open to competition.

After Governorship and Recent Activities

After his time as governor, Kim Moon-soo ran for mayor of Seoul in the 2018 election as the Liberty Korea Party's candidate. He came in second place in that election.

He remained active in politics, sometimes participating in protests against the government. In 2020, he founded a short-lived political party called the Liberty Unification Party. He also continued to advocate for unity among opposition parties.

Role in the Yoon Suk Yeol Government (2022–2025)

In September 2022, President Yoon Suk Yeol appointed Kim Moon-soo as the chairman of the Economic, Social, and Labor Council, an important body that advises on economic and labor policies. In August 2024, he was appointed as the Minister of Employment and Labor.

During a challenging period in South Korean politics in 2024, Kim Moon-soo expressed disagreement with some government decisions, but he continued to serve in his role.

Campaign for the 2025 Presidential Election

On April 9, 2025, Kim Moon-soo announced his candidacy for the 2025 South Korean presidential election. He stated that he was the right candidate to challenge the opposing party's leader. On May 3, he was confirmed as the official presidential candidate for the People Power Party after winning the final round of their primary elections. He won with 56.5 percent of the vote, defeating his closest competitor, Han Dong-hoon. In his victory speech, Kim Moon-soo emphasized his goal to unite different groups to win the election.

There were some discussions and changes regarding his nomination, but eventually, his nomination was reinstated by the party. On May 17, 2025, President Yoon Suk Yeol officially endorsed Kim Moon-soo's presidential campaign.

See also

In Spanish: Kim Moon-soo (político) para niños