Kim Moon-soo

Kim Moon-soo (; born 27 August 1951) is a South Korean politician and former labor activist who served as the governor of Gyeonggi Province from 2006 to 2014 and as the minister of employment and labor from 2024 to 2025. A member of the People Power Party, he was the party's nominee in the 2025 presidential election, losing to DPK nominee Lee Jae Myung.

Born in Yeongcheon, Kim graduated from Seoul National University in 1994, a degree he earned 25 years after first enrolling, having been expelled twice for participating in student protests against the government. He was arrested and tortured by the dictatorial government in 1980, but his indictment was later suspended. he began his career in politics when he participated in the foundation of the People's Party in 1990.

In 1996, Kim was elected to the 15th National Assembly at Sosa District, Bucheon, as a candidate for the New Korea Party. After continuing to serve as a member of the assembly for another two terms, he became elected by popular vote in 2006 Gyeonggi gubernatorial election and consequently served as the governor of Gyeonggi Province from 2006 to 2014.

Following the impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol, Kim launched his campaign for the PPP nomination in early April 2025. He defeated his closest rival, former party leader Han Dong-hoon, in the final round. On 10 May, Kim's nomination was cancelled and he was replaced by former acting president and prime minister Han Duck-soo, but was later reinstated as the party's nominee. He lost the general election to the DPK's Lee Jae Myung.

Early life and education Kim was born on August 27, 1951, in Yeongcheon, North Gyeongsang Province, as the sixth child of four sons and three daughters. After graduating from Yeongcheon Elementary School in North Gyeongsang Province, he moved to Daegu without his family, where he attended Gyeongbuk Middle School and Gyeongbuk High School.

In 1970, Kim entered the Department of Business Administration at Seoul National University but was expelled in 1974 due to his involvement in the National Democratic Youth and Students Union case. After that, he worked as a disguised worker at Guro Industrial Complex in Guro District, Seoul with Kim Geun-tae. He later graduated from Seoul National University in 1994, 25 years after his initial acceptance. In 1981, Kim married Seol Nan-young, a former female labor activist and former union leader of Sejin Electronics in Guro 2nd Industrial Complex, who had once provided shelter while he was on the run. He served as the deputy floor leader for the Grand National Party.

Kim received the Green Politician Award in 1996, the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee Best Legislative Activity Award in 1998 from the Korean Voters' Movement Association, and a plaque of merit in 1999 for legislative activities to help starving children and a plaque of appreciation from the National Association of Childcare Facilities.

Governor of Gyeonggi Province (2006–2014)

After retiring from the National Assembly in 2006 to run for local government, Kim was elected Governor of Gyeonggi Province, taking office as the 4th Governor elected by public vote in July 2006.

In April 2012, Kim declared his presidential candidacy in the primary election of the Saenuri Party. In announcing his candidacy, Kim asserted that the nomination of Park Geun-hye should not be viewed as axiomatic, despite a decade of preparation for the campaign on her part.

He founded the short-lived Liberty Unification Party on 31 January 2020, and began his activities as the party's representative for the legislative election. It was expected that the Gwanghwamun rally forces will be consolidated, and liberal right-wing values would be put forward in preparation for the general election.

On 18 March 2021, along with Kim Moo-sung and Lee Jae-oh, Kim demanded the unification of the opposition candidates for the Seoul mayoral by-election and the resignation of Kim Chong-in, the emergency response committee chairman of the People Power Party.

Yoon administration (2022–2025) In September 2022, Kim was appointed as the chairman of the Economic, Social, and Labor Council by President Yoon Suk Yeol. In August 2024, despite opposition from labor groups and the Democratic Party, Kim was appointed as Minister of Employment and Labor. During the 2024 South Korean martial law crisis, Kim disagreed with Yoon's decision to declare martial law, but refused to join other members of the cabinet in making a public apology after it was revoked by the National Assembly and opposed Yoon's impeachment.

2025 presidential election

Kim announced his candidacy for the 2025 South Korean presidential election on 9 April, five days after the Yoon's impeachment was upheld on 4 April, saying, "I am the right candidate for Lee Jae Myung's opponent." On 3 May, Kim was confirmed as the PPP's official candidate for President after winning the final round of primaries. He garnered 56.5 percent of the vote, beating out former Party Leader Han Dong-hoon. Kim stated in his victory speech: "I'll form a strong alliance with anyone to prevent a rule by Lee Jae Myung and his Democratic Party forces. I'll push for that in a procedure and method that our people and party members accept, and I'll ultimately win." He then engaged in talks with independent candidate Han Duck-soo on fielding a common conservative candidate for the election on 7 May, which were inconclusive. Kim has claimed that the PPP and its chair, Kwon Young-se, has moved unilaterally to unify candidacies without consulting him. The PPP confirmed early on 10 May that they would outright cancel the nomination of Kim and instead nominate Han at an emergency convention the same day. Kim hinted at countermeasures, stating that "party democracy is dead" and that he would seek legal action against the party. Later that day, members of the PPP rejected a resolution designating Han as the party's candidate following an all-party vote, resulting in Kim's nomination being reinstated.

During the campaign, Kim issued a formal apology for Yoon's martial law declaration, saying that it was an inappropriate decision that triggered nationwide turmoil and that he would have advised Yoon against it had he known of the plan earlier. He also pledged to relocate the National Assembly, reduce the number of MPs by 10%, and establish a second presidential office in Sejong City. On 17 May 2025, Kim received the endorsement of Yoon Suk Yeol. He lost the election to Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae Myung.

Election results General elections Year Elections Constituency Political party Votes (%) Remarks 1992 14th National Assembly General Election National (3rd) Popular 319,041 (1.55%) Not Elected 1996 15th National Assembly General Election Bucheon Sosa (Gyeonggi) New Korea 33,446 (39.19%) Won 2000 16th National Assembly General Election Bucheon Sosa (Gyeonggi) Grand National 47,101 (61.62%) Won 2004 17th National Assembly General Election Bucheon Sosa (Gyeonggi) Grand National 50,418 (52.94%) Won 2016 20th National Assembly General Election Suseong A (Daegu) Saenuri 51,375 (37.69%) Defeated

Local elections Year Elections Constituency Political party Votes (%) Remarks 2006 4th Local Election Gyeonggi(Governoral Elections) Grand National 2,181,677 (59.68%) Won 2010 5th Local Election Gyeonggi(Governoral Elections) Grand National 2,271,492 (52.20%) Won 2018 7th Local Election Seoul(Mayoral Elections) Liberty Korea 1,158,487 (23.34%) Defeated

Presidential elections