[Profile] Lee Jin-bok, Appointed Senior Secretary for Political Affairs... Three-term Veteran 'Party Strategist'

Lee Jin-bok, Nominee for Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Buaeri] Lee Jin-bok, who has been nominated as the first Senior Secretary for Political Affairs in the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, is a politician who has served three terms in the National Assembly.

Born in Busan, Lee entered politics as an aide to former National Assembly Speaker Park Kwan-yong. From 2002 to 2006, he served as the head of Dongnae District Office in Busan.

In the 2008 18th general election, he ran as an independent candidate in Busan Dongnae District and entered the National Assembly. He later joined the Grand National Party and served as the deputy floor leader from 2010 to 2011. He was elected as a member of the National Assembly for this district in the 19th and 20th general elections, becoming a three-term veteran lawmaker.

He is recognized as a strategist within the party, having served as head of the Strategic Planning Headquarters of the Saenuri Party, the predecessor of the People Power Party, and later as the overall head of the Future United Party’s 4.15 general election campaign committee in 2020.

During the 18th National Assembly, he was active in the Political Affairs Committee, the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, and the Steering Committee. In the latter half of the 19th National Assembly, he served as secretary of the Industry, Trade and Energy Committee, mainly playing roles in economic standing committees. He also served as chairman of the Political Affairs Committee in the 20th National Assembly.

During the split of the Saenuri Party following former President Park Geun-hye’s impeachment, he joined the exodus and became part of the Bareun Party. He returned to the party just before the 2017 presidential election and later declared he would not run in the 21st general election, taking political responsibility for the impeachment crisis.

It is known that Lee had no special personal ties with President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol before the presidential election, but key close aides of Yoon, such as Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, and Jang Je-won, chief secretary to the president-elect, are all from the Bareun Party.

The Yoon transition team stated, "Lee possesses political judgment, administrative ability, and political skills. In the 20th National Assembly, he served as chairman of the Political Affairs Committee, demonstrating experience that spans both ruling and opposition parties, as well as inside and outside the National Assembly. His balanced political capabilities will serve as a communication channel connecting the presidential office and the political world."

▲Busan (born 1957) ▲Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Korea National Open University, Master’s degree in Local Government Administration from Dong-A University Graduate School of Policy Science ▲Administrative Officer at the Presidential Office of Civil Affairs ▲Head of Dongnae District Office, Busan ▲Member of the 18th, 19th, and 20th National Assembly ▲Chairman of Busan City Party Committee and Head of Strategic Planning Headquarters of the Saenuri Party ▲Chairman of the National Assembly Political Affairs Committee ▲Overall Head of the Future United Party’s 21st General Election Campaign Committee

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