Sim Sang-jung facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sim Sang-jung
|
|
|---|---|
|
심상정
|
|
Sim Sang-jung in 2015
|
|
| Member of the National Assembly | |
| In office 30 May 2012 – 29 May 2024 |
|
| Preceded by | Son Beom Gyu |
| Constituency | Gyeonggi Goyang A |
| In office 30 May 2004 – 29 May 2008 |
|
| Constituency | Proportional representation |
| Leader of the Justice Party | |
| In office 18 July 2015 – 11 July 2017 |
|
| Preceded by | Cheon Ho-sun |
| Succeeded by | Lee Jeong-mi |
| In office 13 July 2019 – 12 October 2020 |
|
| Preceded by | Lee Jeong-mi |
| Succeeded by | Kim Jong-Cheol |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 February 1959 P'aju, Kyonggi Province, South Korea |
| Political party | Justice Party |
| Other political affiliations |
Democratic Labor Party (2000–2008) New Progressive Party (2008–2011) Unified Progressive Party (2011–12) |
| Alma mater | Seoul National University |
| Signature |  |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul |
심상정
|
| Hanja |
沈相奵
|
| RR | Sim Sangjeong |
| MR | Sim Sangjŏng |
Sim Sang-jung (Hangul: 심상정; born 20 February 1959) is a South Korean activist who worked for workers' rights and was a politician. She was a major candidate for president in both the 2017 South Korean presidential election and the 2022 South Korean presidential election. In both elections, she ran as the candidate for the Justice Party.
She served as a member of the National Assembly, which is like the parliament, from 2004 to 2008 and again from 2012 to 2024. She also led the Justice Party for two terms, from 2015 to 2017 and from 2019 to 2020. Sim Sang-jung announced that she would retire from politics after the 2024 South Korean legislative election. Her political career officially ended on May 29, 2024.
Contents
Early Life and Activism
Sim Sang-jung studied at Seoul National University. She earned a bachelor's degree in education. She had originally planned to become a history teacher.
Fighting for Workers' Rights
When she was 21, Sim Sang-jung started working at a factory that made cassette tapes. This is where her journey as a labor rights activist began. She was fired from her job because she encouraged other workers to ask for better pay and food.
Even after being fired, she kept working different jobs and continued her activism. She became known for helping workers demand fair treatment. In 1985, she was on a special list for organizing worker protests. She stayed on this list for nine years. During this time, she married her husband, who was also an activist.
Her Journey in Politics
Sim Sang-jung first became a politician in 2004. She was elected to the 17th National Assembly as a member of the Democratic Labor Party.
Becoming a National Assembly Member
In 2012, she won her first direct election to the 19th National Assembly. She represented an area in Gyeonggi Goyang. She received almost half of the votes in that election.
After some changes in political parties, Sim Sang-jung helped create the Justice Party. She was chosen to lead the party in 2015. She won another election in 2016, becoming a member of the 20th National Assembly. In 2020, she won again, making her the first person from a progressive party in Korea to serve four terms in parliament. She retired from politics after the 2024 election.
What Sim Sang-jung Believes In
Sim Sang-jung's political ideas are based on the progressive goals of the Justice Party.
Ideas on the Economy
She believes in changing chaebols, which are large family-controlled companies in Korea. She thinks that family members should not automatically take over these companies. A key idea she supported in the 2022 presidential election was a four-day work week. This is a big idea in South Korea, where people often work very long hours.
Views on Social Issues
In the 2017 presidential election, Sim Sang-jung was the only main candidate who openly supported LGBT rights in South Korea. This means she believes in equal rights for all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
National Security Ideas
Sim Sang-jung does not support the use of THAAD. This is a missile defense system from the U.S. She wants the Korean Peninsula to be free of nuclear weapons.
Supporting Women's Rights
Sim Sang-jung identifies as a feminist. She has stated that "Sexism clearly exists in South Korean society." This means she believes women often face unfair treatment. Surveys during the 2022 presidential election showed that many young women supported her. Some people see her as a hero because she speaks up for women's rights.
See also
In Spanish: Sim Sang-jung para niños
