World Prisons
All persons
Kim Moon-soo

Kim Moon-soo

1951

Nationality
South Korea
Occupation
politician

Kim Moon-soo (Korean: 김문수; born August 27, 1951) is a South Korean politician and former labor activist who served as the minister of employment and labor from 2024 to 2025.

Incarceration history

Facilities

  1. Seodaemun Prison
    Dates unknown

Biography

Kim Moon-soo (Korean: 김문수; born August 27, 1951) is a South Korean politician and former labor activist who served 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 by nearly 8.5 points 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. In 1986, Kim was arrested on charges of leading the Incheon May 3 direct election constitutional amendment struggle as a member of the Seoul Confederation of Labor Movement, was tortured, and served 2 years in prison. A former labor activist, 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.

Related people

Same nationality and era where possible; falls back to shared nationality or era.

  • Moon Jae-in
    Moon Jae-in
    1953South Korea

    Moon Jae-in (Korean: 문재인, pronounced [mun.dʑɛ.in] ; born 24 January 1953) is a South Korean politician and lawyer who served as the 12th president of South Korea from 2017 to 2022.

  • Kim Eun-hwan
    1930South Korea
  • Lee Myung-bak
    Lee Myung-bak
    1941South Korea

    Lee Myung-bak (pronounced /ˌmjʌŋ ˈbɑːk/; Korean: 이명박; pronounced [i.mjʌŋ.bak̚]; born 19 December 1941), often referred to by his initials MB, is a South Korean politician and business executive who served as the tenth president of South Korea from 2008 to 2013.

  • Choi Sun-sil
    Choi Sun-sil
    1956South Korea

    Choi Seo-won (Korean: 최서원; born 23 June 1956 as Choi Soon-sil; Korean: 최순실; pronounced [t͡ɕʰø.sun.ɕil]) is a South Korean businesswoman known primarily for her involvement in the 2016 South Korean political scandal, stemming from her influence over the 11th President of South Korea, Park Geun-hye.

  • Lee Jae-yong
    Lee Jae-yong
    1968South Korea

    Lee Jae-yong (Korean: 이재용; born June 23, 1968) is a South Korean business executive who has been chairman of Samsung since October 2022.

  • Won Sei-hoon
    Won Sei-hoon
    1951South Korea

    Won Sei-hoon (born January 31, 1951) is a former South Korean public servant.