Chung Sye-kyun

Chung Sye-kyun (; born 5 November 1950

Early political career Chung entered the National Assembly in the 1996 parliamentary election as a member of the main liberal opposition National Congress for New Politics, representing his home county of Jinan, North Jeolla, in the Jinan–Muju–Jangsu constituency.

President Roh Moo-hyun appointed Chung the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Energy at the start of 2006. As minister, Chung received U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman in Seoul, and participated in the Five-Party Energy Ministerial held in Beijing on 16 December 2006, promoting energy efficiency and the development of clean energy technologies.

Democratic Party leader (2008–10) At the Democratic Party national convention on 6 July 2008, Chung was elected leader of the party, defeating Choo Mi-ae, his closest competitor.

In July 2009, Chung went on a six-day hunger strike to protest a series of media laws passed by the ruling Grand National Party. He resigned his assembly seat on 24 July alongside Chun Jung-bae, labeling the bills invalid and stating that passing legislation through "illegal voting and violence cannot be justified". Some 70 Democratic lawmakers also handed letters of resignation to Chung, Chung and his fellow party members returned to the assembly on 27 August after a month of protests.

Chung faced calls to resign as party leader after the Democratic Party underperformed in the 2010 by-elections, losing five of the eight seats being contested. He accepted the demands and resigned alongside the rest of the party leadership on 2 August taking responsibility for the defeat.

Later legislative career (2010–present) In the 2012 parliamentary election, Chung moved from Jeolla to Seoul to contest Jongno, an important constituency encompassing the Dongdaemun and the presidential residence at the Blue House. He defeated his Saenuri Party competitor Hong Sa-duk, a six-term assemblyman and leading supporter of Park Geun-hye. Prior to the 2016 election, Chung had criticized the Minjoo leadership for failing to nominate enough women and minority candidates. In December 2019, he was nominated the second prime minister of the Moon Jae-in government. He took office as the 46th Prime Minister on 14 January 2020.

Election results Year Elections Constituency Political party Votes (%) Results 1996 15th National Assembly General Election Jinan–Muju–Jangsu (North Jeolla) NCNP 36,176 (68.86%) Won 2000 16th National Assembly General Election Jinan–Muju–Jangsu (North Jeolla) MDP 34,165 (65.14%) Won 2004 17th National Assembly General Election Jinan–Muju–Jangsu-Imsil (North Jeolla) Uri 45,475 (78.08%) Won 2008 18th National Assembly General Election Jinan–Muju–Jangsu-Imsil (North Jeolla) UDP 35,566 (74.00%) Won 2012 19th National Assembly General Election Jongno (Seoul) DUP 41,732 (52.26%) Won 2016 20th National Assembly General Election Jongno (Seoul) Democratic 44,342 (52.56%) Won

Trivia His nickname is the 'Bacteriaman (Baikinman, 세균맨)', so he received a Baikinman doll. Because his name, 세균 (世均, Sye-kyun or Segyun), is pronounced the same as 세균 (細菌, segyun), which means bacteria.

His religious affiliation is Protestant.