Shin Dong-kun

Shin Dong-kun (; born 22 December 1961) is a South Korean dentist-turned politician representing Incheon's Seo District at the National Assembly from 2016.

Biography Before entering politics During his studies at Kyung Hee University, he led his university branch of student-organised group calling for the U.S. to stop providing legitimacy to authoritarian Chun Doo-hwan regime. In May 1985, this group even occupied American cultural center in Seoul. The prosecution service branded this group as "North Korean collaborators" defined by National Security Law. After spending in jail for a year and a half, Shin was pardoned and able to go back to continue his studies. In 2000 he was recognised as a person of distinguished service to the Republic for his participation in democracy movement.

After completing his first dentistry degree, Shin opened his own dental clinic in Seo District, Incheon in 1990. After losing two elections in 2002 and 2004, he failed to earn his party's nomination for the same constituency for the 2008 general election.

From 2010 to 2011 he has served as the first deputy of newly elected Mayor of Incheon, Song Young-gil. In June 2020 he criticised Gyeonggi Provincial Governor Lee Jae-myung for incorrectly branding COVID-19 emergency relief fund as Universal basic income and promoting UBI preferable to developing social safety net in addressing inequality.

In July 2020 Shin announced his campaign to become one of five elected member of his party's Supreme Council. In August 2020 he was elected as Supreme Council member for fixed term of 2 years receiving most votes after Kim Jong-min and Yeom Tae-young.

From September 2020 Shin chairs party's task force for political reforms.

Education He holds two degrees in dentistry - D.M.D. from Kyung Hee University and a master's in dentistry from Seoul National University where he also completed his doctorate programme on dentistry. He is a Chonbuk Mechanical Technical High School graduate.

Electoral history