[Person of the Year - Society] Jeong Eun-kyung · Chu Mi-ae · Yoon Seok-yeol · Kim Hyun-mi · Park Won-soon · Jo Eun-san

2020. Just like any other year, 365 days passed by. What were the events that left a mark on our society and history over the past year? Our country was no exception to the unexpected variable of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) that swept across the world. Korean society, which had already been 'dynamic' and turbulent, showed an even more complex and multifaceted appearance due to COVID-19. The editorial team of Asia Economy carefully selected the most influential figures of 2020 by field, whom our society cannot help but remember or must remember.

Jung Eun-kyung, Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency

Jung Eun-kyung, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency [Photo by Yonhap News]

‘Quarantine Commander,’ ‘Virus Hunter’?these are some of the expressions used to describe Jung Eun-kyung, Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. From January, when there were no patients in the country, to nearly 60,000 cases now, she has led the frontline of quarantine efforts. Her statements contain neither premature hope nor exaggerated fear, nor unnecessary rhetoric. She calmly conveyed the facts as they were, giving the public confidence.

Choo Mi-ae, Minister of Justice

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae [Photo by Yonhap News]

The Choo storm stopped after one year; the debate over ‘subordinate or not’ pushed prosecution reform to the back burner. Despite purging Yoon’s line by claiming "disobedience," she failed three times to remove the Prosecutor General. Her "You’re writing fiction" remark even provoked the Writers’ Association... Was the disciplinary reason against Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl just fiction? Where will the prosecution reform led by the succeeding minister head?

Yoon Seok-youl, Prosecutor General

Yoon Seok-yeol, Prosecutor General [Image source=Yonhap News]

He shouted, "The Prosecutor General is not a subordinate of the Minister of Justice," enduring a crossfire of investigations, inspections, and disciplinary actions from Minister Choo Mi-ae, and rose twice. Although he ranks first in presidential approval ratings, the ruling party’s calls for harsher prosecution reform grow louder. The heavy sentence for Professor Jeong Gyeong-sim exposed former Minister Cho Kuk’s false explanations, but he remains a powerless Prosecutor General who cannot freely manage personnel or investigations. With seven months left in his term, where will the investigation into the Wolseong nuclear power plant head?

Kim Hyun-mi, Former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The longest-serving Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in history. At the beginning of her tenure, she boldly expressed her determination to stabilize housing prices by saying, "Sell everything except the house you live in," but despite 25 measures over three and a half years, housing prices surged like wildfire from Seoul to the metropolitan area and nationwide. She left office saying, "I am sorry for not fulfilling the promise to ease housing worries."

Late Park Won-soon, Former Mayor of Seoul

The late Park Won-soon, former Mayor of Seoul

A human rights lawyer who won Korea’s first workplace sexual harassment lawsuit... Park Won-soon, former Mayor of Seoul, who succeeded in three consecutive terms since 2011 and was even mentioned as a presidential candidate, took his own life on Bukaksan Mountain last July. The day before his disappearance, Park’s secretary filed a police complaint accusing him of sexual harassment. Will the ‘substantive truth’ ever be revealed?

Joeun San, Blogger

Perhaps the most famous internet pseudonym since ‘Minerva.’ The ‘seven-point proposal’ by this humble ‘speck of dust’ person (塵人) was agreed upon by a total of 439,611 people. Among the highlights are phrases like "The ‘crazy’ claim that the current market price rose 11%" and "Only burning the hearts of the ‘pitiful’ common people."

Delivery Workers

16. The estimated number of delivery workers who died from overwork this year. Messages they left via KakaoTalk and text include ‘Lost 20kg in 6 months,’ ‘I am so exhausted.’ The shadow of non-face-to-face consumption, which felt convenient and safe amid the spread of COVID-19. Late measures such as additional workforce deployment and discussions on laws to prevent overwork deaths remain insufficient.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.