Kim Young-choon

Kim Young-choon (, born 5 February 1962) is a South Korean former politician serving as the Secretary-General of the National Assembly from June 2020.

He was previously President Moon Jae-in's first Minister of Oceans and Fisheries and a three-term parliamentarian.

Prior to entering politics, he was an activist at Korea University, where he served as the president of its student union.

Kim Young-choon was educated at Sungji Primary School (1969–74), Busan Kaesong Secondary School (1975–77) and Busan East High School (1978–80).

Kim joined the Council for the Promotion of Democracy in late 1980s, where he met the-then Chairman of the United Democratic Party (UDP) Kim Young-sam.

He enrolled for undergraduate studies in English language at Korea University as a top student in 1981.

In 1984, while attending at Korea University, Kim was elected the President of the Student Council.

He was briefly detained for occupying the-then ruling Democratic Justice Party (DJP) headquarter.

Following the 1985 election, he was released and joined labour movements.

In 1987, he became the secretary to the party chairman.

Following his graduation in 1988, he continued to postgraduate studies in diplomacy and completed in 1990.

He was appointed the Secretary to the President for Political Affairs of the Blue House following the victory of the ex-UDP Chairman in 1992 presidential election.

Prior to the 1996 election, Kim contested NKP preselection for Gwangjin 1st constituency.

He defeated the former Deputy Minister of Culture and Sports Kim Do-hyun, but lost to the NCNP candidate Kim Sang-woo.

He was elected to the National Assembly under the Grand National Party (GNP) banner at the 2000 election.

In July 2003, following the election of Roh Moo-hyun Kim withdrew from the GNP, criticising the GNP for "returning back to the DJP".

He then joined the newly formed ruling Uri Party and was re-elected in 2004 election.

On the other hand, he subsequently became critical to the Roh's government.

In 2007, he declared to not seek for re-election in the upcoming general election.

For the presidential election in December he endorsed Moon Kook-hyun.

Following the general election, Kim briefly took a rest and did not hold any party memberships.

He returned to politics by joining the Democratic Party after being nominated Vice President by the party president Sohn Hak-kyu.

In 2012 election, he unsuccessfully ran for Busanjin 1st constituency.

On 26 February 2014, Kim launched his bid for Busan mayorship prior to the 2014 local elections.

He was confirmed as the NPAD candidate but abandoned his candidacy and endorsed the independent candidate Oh Keo-don in order to beat the ruling Saenuri's Suh Byung-soo.

Oh, however, narrowly lost to the Saenuri candidate.

In 2016 election, Kim was again selected as the MP candidate for Busanjin 1st constituency.

At the beginning, he was not expected to win as he came behind to the Saenuri candidate Na Sung-lin.

However, on the election day, he received approximately 49.6% and defeated Na with a majority of 2,853 votes.

On 30 May 2017, Kim was nominated the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries by the newly elected President Moon Jae-in.

He was officially appointed to the position on 16 June.

On 17 June, the next day of his appointment, Kim visited Mokpo New Port for inspect the MV Sewol in order to recover uncollected bodies and settle unsolved issues.

He met some bereaved families and promised to solve the problem as soon as possible.

The Coast Guard, abolished following the MV Sewol tragedy, was re-established under the new government.

Kim praised the Government's decision and urged the cooperation between the Ministry and the Coast Guard.

Prior to the 2018 local elections, Kim was a potential candidate for Busan mayorship.

However, he confirmed he would not run, letting Oh Keo-don to be the governmental candidate.

On 8 May 2018, approximately a year later the inauguration of the President Moon, Kim was chosen as the best minister of the Government.

A week later, the Ministry announced they would bring a plan to build marine solar plants.

Kim was replaced by Moon Seong-hyeok on 3 April 2019.