Kim Young-joo (politician)

This article is about South Korean politician and former minister. For South Korean football referee, see Kim Young-joo.

Kim Young-joo
김영주
Kim in 2022
Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly
In office 4 July 2022 – 5 May 2024 Serving with Chung Jin-suk (2022) Chung Woo-taik (2022-24)
Preceded by	Kim Sang-hee
Minister of Employment and Labor
In office 14 August 2017 – 21 September 2018
President	Moon Jae-in
Prime Minister	Lee Nak-yeon
Succeeded by	Lee Jae-gap
Member of the National Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office 30 May 2012
Constituency	Yeongdeungpo A (Seoul)
In office 30 May 2004 – 29 May 2008
Constituency	Proportional representation
Personal details
Born	(1955-07-27) 27 July 1955 Seoul, South Korea
Political party	People Power (2024–present)
Other political affiliations	Democratic (2015–2024)
Alma mater	Korea National Open University Sogang University

In this Korean name, the family name is Kim.

Kim Young-joo (Korean: 김영주; Hanja: 金榮珠; born 27 July 1955) is a South Korean politician and former basketball player previously served as President Moon Jae-in's first Minister of Employment and Labor from 2017 to 2018. She is the first woman to lead the Labour Ministry since its foundation in 1981 and its preceding agency in 1948.

She was a basketball player for Seoul Trust Bank (now absorbed into Hana Bank). She then worked at the Bank where she reportedly faced gender discrimination which led her to join its trade union. She later joined its leadership board and eventually became the deputy chair of the Korea Financial Industry Union and the first woman to assume this post.

In 1999 she first entered politics when she was recruited by Kim Dae-jung. She has consistently took senior roles in her party and its succeeding parties such as its secretary-general and one of elected members of its Supreme Council.

Minister of Employment and Labor (2017–2018)

She was nominated and appointed as President Moon Jae-in's first Minister of Employment and Labor. She was replaced after facing opposition parties and the media's strong critics of the "decrease in weekly working hours and increase in minimum wage" policy, which she was responsible for as labour minister and was one of the main socio-economic campaign promises of Moon, throughout her time as Minister.

Kim completed her tertiary education in her 40s - an undergraduate degree in Korean language and literature from Korea National Open University and a master's degree in economics from Sogang University.

Resignation of the DPK to join the PPP

She will resign from the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) to join the People's Power Party (PPP); on February 19, 2024; a few months before the legislatives elections in South Korea; bringing the vice-presidency of the National Assembly to 2 members of the same party instead of one for each.

Electoral history

Election	Year	District	Party Affiliation	Votes	Percentage of votes	Results
16th National Assembly General Election	2000	Proportional representation	Democratic Party (2000)	6,780,625	35.9%	Lost
17th National Assembly General Election	2004	Proportional representation	Uri Party	8,145,824	38.26%	Won
18th National Assembly General Election	2008	Seoul Yeongdeungpo A	Democratic Party (2008)	34,163	42.53%	Lost
19th National Assembly General Election	2012	Seoul Yeongdeungpo A	Democratic United Party	52,232	52.87%	Won
20th National Assembly General Election	2016	Seoul Yeongdeungpo A	Democratic Party	49,935	45.28%	Won
21st National Assembly General Election	2020	Seoul Yeongdeungpo A	Democratic Party	72,445	56.2%	Won