KOREA WHO
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Mayor of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Integrated Special Metropolitan City
Min Hyung-bae
Former Politician Leads Integration, Pursues 'Overwhelming Growth'
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Last Updated on Aug 19, 2026
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Mayor of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Integrated Special Metropolitan City
Life Summary
Min Hyung-bae is the first mayor of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Integrated Special Metropolitan City.
Min is focusing on ensuring the successful integration of Gwangju and South Jeolla Province, fostering advanced industries including semiconductors, and resolving key regional issues such as the relocation of the military airport.
He was born on June 15, 1961, in Hwanae-ri, Masan-myeon, Haenam County, South Jeolla Province.
He graduated from Mokpo High School and the Department of Sociology at Chonnam National University. He earned both a master's degree and a doctorate in sociology from the graduate school of Chonnam National University.
After working as a reporter for the Jeonnam Ilbo for 12 years, he became a co-representative of the civic group Participatory Autonomy 21 and took part in local civic movements.
During the Roh Moo-hyun administration, he served as a presidential secretary for social coordination. He was later elected head of Gwangsan District in Gwangju and won re-election.
During the Moon Jae-in administration, he served at the presidential office as secretary for local autonomy development and secretary for social policy, handling major regional issues in Gwangju and South Jeolla Province, including the "Gwangju-type jobs" project, the establishment of Korea Energy Engineering University, and the creation of an AI industrial cluster.
In the 2020 general election for the 21st National Assembly, he ran as a Democratic Party of Korea candidate in Gwangju Gwangsan B and was elected to the National Assembly. He won re-election in the 2024 general election for the 22nd National Assembly.
He has strongly advocated reform agendas including prosecution reform and is classified as a hardliner within the Democratic Party. In 2022, during the process of passing legislation known as "complete deprivation of the prosecution's investigative powers," he drew controversy after leaving the party and participating as an independent member of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee's agenda coordination subcommittee.
His broad career spanning journalism, civil society, local administration and national government is considered one of his strengths.
He is regarded as a politician known for his direct speaking style and clear, forceful messages.
#MinHyungbae #GwangjuJeonnam #GwangjuPolitics #SouthJeolla #DemocraticParty #LocalGovernment #RegionalDevelopment #Semiconductors #ProsecutionReform #MilitaryAirport
Min is focusing on ensuring the successful integration of Gwangju and South Jeolla Province, fostering advanced industries including semiconductors, and resolving key regional issues such as the relocation of the military airport.
He was born on June 15, 1961, in Hwanae-ri, Masan-myeon, Haenam County, South Jeolla Province.
He graduated from Mokpo High School and the Department of Sociology at Chonnam National University. He earned both a master's degree and a doctorate in sociology from the graduate school of Chonnam National University.
After working as a reporter for the Jeonnam Ilbo for 12 years, he became a co-representative of the civic group Participatory Autonomy 21 and took part in local civic movements.
During the Roh Moo-hyun administration, he served as a presidential secretary for social coordination. He was later elected head of Gwangsan District in Gwangju and won re-election.
During the Moon Jae-in administration, he served at the presidential office as secretary for local autonomy development and secretary for social policy, handling major regional issues in Gwangju and South Jeolla Province, including the "Gwangju-type jobs" project, the establishment of Korea Energy Engineering University, and the creation of an AI industrial cluster.
In the 2020 general election for the 21st National Assembly, he ran as a Democratic Party of Korea candidate in Gwangju Gwangsan B and was elected to the National Assembly. He won re-election in the 2024 general election for the 22nd National Assembly.
He has strongly advocated reform agendas including prosecution reform and is classified as a hardliner within the Democratic Party. In 2022, during the process of passing legislation known as "complete deprivation of the prosecution's investigative powers," he drew controversy after leaving the party and participating as an independent member of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee's agenda coordination subcommittee.
His broad career spanning journalism, civil society, local administration and national government is considered one of his strengths.
He is regarded as a politician known for his direct speaking style and clear, forceful messages.
#MinHyungbae #GwangjuJeonnam #GwangjuPolitics #SouthJeolla #DemocraticParty #LocalGovernment #RegionalDevelopment #Semiconductors #ProsecutionReform #MilitaryAirport