Kim Young-joo (politician)
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.
Kim Young-joo | |
|---|---|
| 김영주 | |
Kim in 2022 | |
| Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly | |
| Assumed office 4 July 2022 | |
| 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 | |
| Assumed office 30 May 2012 | |
| Constituency | Yeongdeungpo A (Seoul) |
| In office 30 May 2004 – 29 May 2008 | |
| Constituency | Proportional representation |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 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 |
She was a basketball player for Seoul Trust Bank (now absorbed into Hana Bank). She then worked at the Bank where she 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.