KOREA WHO
-
-
-
Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea
Kim Min-seok
From Prime Minister to Party Leader, Eyeing 2028 Victory
-
Last Updated on Sep 1, 2026
-
Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea
Life Summary
Kim Min-seok is the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea.
He is working to support the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration and lay the groundwork for victory in the 2028 general election by promoting unity within the party and expanding its support base under an agenda focused on people’s livelihoods, pragmatism and unity.
He was born on May 29, 1964, in Singil-dong, Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul.
He graduated from Soongsil High School in Seoul and Seoul National University with a degree in sociology. He earned a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard Kennedy School in the United States and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the graduate school of Tsinghua University in China. He received a doctorate in law from Rutgers University–Newark in the United States.
While attending university, he served as president of the Seoul National University Student Council and president of the National Student Association. He was imprisoned after being identified as the mastermind behind the occupation of the U.S. Cultural Center.
He entered politics after being recruited by former President Kim Dae-jung.
He ran in the 1992 National Assembly election but was defeated. In the 1996 general election, he ran in Seoul’s Yeongdeungpo B constituency as a candidate of the National Congress for New Politics and was elected. He won re-election in the 2000 general election.
He served as chief of staff to Kim Dae-jung, then president of the Millennium Democratic Party.
Ahead of the 16th presidential election, he left the Millennium Democratic Party and served as co-chair of the election campaign committee for Chung Mong-joon, the presidential candidate of National Integration 21. He left National Integration 21 in 2003 and returned to the Millennium Democratic Party.
He ran in Seoul’s Yeongdeungpo B constituency and was elected in the 2020 and 2024 general elections.
As a senior Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Korea, he served as a standing co-chair of Lee Jae-myung’s election campaign committee in the 2025 presidential election.
After serving as the first prime minister of the Lee Jae-myung administration, he was elected leader of the Democratic Party of Korea in August 2026, cementing his position as a key leader of the ruling bloc.
Translator's note: The opening phrase “김민석Kim Min-seok은” appears to contain a duplication or editing error combining the Korean and English names. It was interpreted as “김민석은.”
#KimMinseok #DemocraticPartyofKorea #LeeJaemyung #SouthKoreaPolitics #PrimeMinister #NationalAssembly #Yeongdeungpo #2028GeneralElection #PoliticalLeadership #RulingParty
He is working to support the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration and lay the groundwork for victory in the 2028 general election by promoting unity within the party and expanding its support base under an agenda focused on people’s livelihoods, pragmatism and unity.
He was born on May 29, 1964, in Singil-dong, Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul.
He graduated from Soongsil High School in Seoul and Seoul National University with a degree in sociology. He earned a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard Kennedy School in the United States and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the graduate school of Tsinghua University in China. He received a doctorate in law from Rutgers University–Newark in the United States.
While attending university, he served as president of the Seoul National University Student Council and president of the National Student Association. He was imprisoned after being identified as the mastermind behind the occupation of the U.S. Cultural Center.
He entered politics after being recruited by former President Kim Dae-jung.
He ran in the 1992 National Assembly election but was defeated. In the 1996 general election, he ran in Seoul’s Yeongdeungpo B constituency as a candidate of the National Congress for New Politics and was elected. He won re-election in the 2000 general election.
He served as chief of staff to Kim Dae-jung, then president of the Millennium Democratic Party.
Ahead of the 16th presidential election, he left the Millennium Democratic Party and served as co-chair of the election campaign committee for Chung Mong-joon, the presidential candidate of National Integration 21. He left National Integration 21 in 2003 and returned to the Millennium Democratic Party.
He ran in Seoul’s Yeongdeungpo B constituency and was elected in the 2020 and 2024 general elections.
As a senior Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Korea, he served as a standing co-chair of Lee Jae-myung’s election campaign committee in the 2025 presidential election.
After serving as the first prime minister of the Lee Jae-myung administration, he was elected leader of the Democratic Party of Korea in August 2026, cementing his position as a key leader of the ruling bloc.
Translator's note: The opening phrase “김민석Kim Min-seok은” appears to contain a duplication or editing error combining the Korean and English names. It was interpreted as “김민석은.”
#KimMinseok #DemocraticPartyofKorea #LeeJaemyung #SouthKoreaPolitics #PrimeMinister #NationalAssembly #Yeongdeungpo #2028GeneralElection #PoliticalLeadership #RulingParty