Kim Boo-kyum Appointed as the Last Prime Minister of the Moon Jae-in Administration... TK-born 'Unifying' Figure

President Moon Jae-in nominated former Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Boo-kyum as the new Prime Minister on the 16th. 2021.4.16
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Son Seon-hee] Kim Boo-kyum, the nominee for Prime Minister from Daegu (63), is regarded in the political world as a symbol of 'overcoming regionalism.'

Kim, nominated on the 16th as the next Prime Minister candidate, is a four-term member of the National Assembly from the Democratic Party of Korea and served as Minister of the Interior and Safety under the Moon Jae-in administration.

In the past, he was consecutively elected three times in the 16th, 17th, and 18th general elections from Gunpo, Gyeonggi Province. Then, in 2012, he was elected as a Supreme Council member of the Democratic United Party (the predecessor of the Democratic Party of Korea), promoting the 'completion of a nationwide party.' In the 19th general election held the same year, he ran in Suseong-gap, Daegu, a 'barren land' for the Democratic Party, but was defeated. However, he received a high vote share of 40.4%, which was seen as planting hope for resolving regionalism. He then ran for mayor of Daegu in the 6th local elections in 2014 but lost to the Saenuri Party candidate at the time.

In 2016, during the 20th general election, he was elected as a member of the National Assembly (Suseong-gap) on his third attempt in the Daegu region. This was an achievement breaking through regionalism, marking the first time in 31 years for a Democratic Party candidate and the first time in 45 years under the single-member district system.

At one point, he was also considered a potential Democratic Party presidential candidate and classified as a dark horse in the ruling party. However, he announced he would not run in the 2017 presidential election and served as co-chairman of Moon Jae-in's campaign committee. Afterward, he served as the first Minister of the Interior and Safety under the Moon administration. In last year's general election, he ran again in Suseong-gap, Daegu, but lost with 39.3% of the vote. He currently serves as the Chair of the Democratic Party of Korea's National Integration Special Committee.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun is scheduled to hold a farewell ceremony at 2:30 p.m. today and step down. It is known that Prime Minister Chung will return to politics aiming for the next presidential election. Until Kim's nomination goes through the National Assembly's confirmation hearings and approval procedures and he assumes office, Hong Nam-ki, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, will act as the Prime Minister.

Below is the profile of Prime Minister nominee Kim Boo-kyum.

▲ Daegu Gyeongbuk High School ▲ Seoul National University, Department of Political Science ▲ Yonsei University, Master's in Public Administration ▲ Supreme Council Member of the Democratic United Party ▲ Member of the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 20th National Assembly ▲ Minister of the Interior and Safety ▲ Chair of the Democratic Party of Korea National Integration Special Committee (current)

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