[Profile] New Democratic Party Leader Lee Nak-yeon...

by Kang Nahum

Published 29 Aug.2020 17:21(KST)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] Lee Nak-yeon, elected as the new leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is a politician with a background in journalism.

Born in Yeonggwang, Jeollanam-do, he graduated from Gwangju Jeil High School and Seoul National University Law School. In 1979, he joined Dong-A Ilbo and worked as a reporter for 20 years. In 2000, while serving as head of the international department, he was encouraged by Kim Dae-jung, the president of the Millennium Democratic Party at the time, to run in the 16th general election, where he was elected and entered politics. Since then, he has served four consecutive terms as a member of the National Assembly representing Hampyeong and Yeonggwang in Jeollanam-do.

During his first term, he served twice as the spokesperson for the Millennium Democratic Party from 2001 to 2002, and during the 2002 presidential election, he was the spokesperson for the election campaign committee and for President-elect Roh Moo-hyun.

In the 2014 local elections, he was elected governor of Jeollanam-do and led the provincial government for nearly three years. Shortly after the inauguration of the Moon Jae-in administration in 2017, he was appointed as the first Prime Minister, serving from May 31, 2017, to January 13, 2020. He holds the record as the longest-serving Prime Minister in history, with a tenure of 958 days.

After stepping down as Prime Minister, he ran in the 21st general election for the Jongno district in Seoul and defeated Hwang Kyo-ahn, then a leading opposition presidential candidate and leader of the United Future Party, securing his fifth term.

In the recent party convention to elect the new leadership of the Democratic Party, he won the leadership position with 60.77% of the vote, comfortably surpassing competitors Kim Boo-kyum and Park Joo-min.

◆ Profile of Lee Nak-yeon, new party leader

▲ Born 1952, Yeonggwang, Jeollanam-do ▲ Gwangju Jeil High School ▲ Seoul National University Law School ▲ Dong-A Ilbo reporter ▲ 16th to 19th, 21st National Assembly member ▲ Secretary-General of the Democratic Party ▲ Member of the National Assembly Construction and Transportation Committee and Steering Committee (17th) ▲ Chairman of the National Assembly Agriculture, Food, and Fisheries Committee (18th) ▲ Member of the National Assembly Planning and Finance Committee (19th) ▲ Governor of Jeollanam-do ▲ Prime Minister ▲ Leader of the Democratic Party