Kim Kyoung-soo

Kim Kyoung-soo (; born 1 December 1967) is a South Korean politician who served as a member of the National Assembly from 2016 to 2018 and as the governor of South Gyeongsang Province from 2018 to 2021. His governorship ended following his conviction for involvement in opinion rigging.

Early life Born in Goseong of Gyeongsang Province, Kim spent his adolescence in Jinju. He enrolled in Seoul National University in the department of anthropology. Under the Roh Tae-woo government, Kim was sentenced to two years in prison for participating in the democracy movement, but was later released.

Political career Kim started his political career aiding lawmaker Shin Kye-ryun in 1994. In 2002, he joined the election camp of then-presidential candidate Roh Moo-hyun. After the president's suicide, Kim became the Democratic Party district chairman of Gimhae. He was elected district lawmaker in 2016 South Korean legislative election. He married a junior who studied at Seoul National University together. Kim is considered to be part of the pro-Roh group, along with the former president Moon Jae-in and former South Chungcheong Province governor Ahn Hee-jung.

In 2018, Kim was Democratic Party candidate for Governor of South Gyeongsang Province in the 2018 South Korean local elections. Kim narrowly won the election against conservative foe Kim Tae-Ho of the Liberty Korea Party. Despite his victory, Kim was suspected to have been heavily involved in the opinion rigging scandal.

In 2019, Kim was jailed for two years on charges of online-rigging operations of both the first and second order. On 21 July 2021, he was sentenced to two years by the supreme court for computer business obstruction, and eventually lost his position as governor. He ultimately finished third in the primary, placing behind Kim Dong-yeon and Lee Jae-myung. Later that day, Kim stated on Facebook: "I will run like it's my election for the victory of candidate Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party's success, and an overwhelming regime change."

Election results General elections Year Elections Constituency Political party Votes (%) Results 2012 19th National Assembly General Election Gimhae B (South Gyeongsang) DUP 58,157 (47.88%) Defeated 2016 20th National Assembly General Election Gimhae B (South Gyeongsang) Democratic 70,600 (62.38%) Won

Local elections Governor of South Gyeongsang Year Elections Constituency Political party Votes (%) Remarks 2014 6th Iocal Election South Gyeongsang(Governoral Elections) NPAD 559,367 (36.05%) Defeated 2018 7th Iocal Election South Gyeongsang(Governoral Elections) Democratic 941,491 (52.81%) Won 2026 9th Iocal Election South Gyeongsang(Governoral Elections) Democratic 852,377 (48.71%) Defeated