Kim Doo-kwan
Kim Doo-kwan 김두관 | |
|---|---|
Kim in 2012 | |
| Member of the National Assembly | |
| In office 30 May 2016 – 29 May 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Hong Chul-ho |
| Succeeded by | Kim Tae-ho |
| Constituency | Gimpo A (2016–2020) Yangsan B (2020–2024) |
| Governor of South Gyeongsang Province | |
| In office 1 July 2010 – 6 July 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Kim Tae-ho |
| Succeeded by | Hong Jun-pyo |
| Minister of the Interior | |
| In office 27 February 2003 – 18 September 2003 | |
| President | Roh Moo-hyun |
| Preceded by | Lee Keun-shik |
| Succeeded by | Huh Sung-kwan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 April 1959 Namhae, South Korea |
| Political party | Democratic Party of Korea |
| Alma mater | Dong-A University |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 김두관 |
| Hanja | 金斗官 |
| RR | Gim Dugwan |
| MR | Kim Tugwan |
| Dharma name | |
| Hangul | 웅기 |
| Hanja | 雄氣 |
| RR | Unggi |
| MR | Unggi |
Kim Doo-kwan (Korean: 김두관; born 10 April 1959) is a South Korean Democratic Party politician, former civil servant, and former governor of South Gyeongsang Province. He was elected governor in the 2010 local elections as an independent after two previous unsuccessful attempts. He served as Minister for Home Affairs under the administration of Roh Moo-hyun, and at one point was seen as a potential contender for the DUP nomination in the 2012 presidential election.
Early life and education
Kim Doo-kwan was born in a village in Namhae on 10 April 1959. He studied at the Department of Political Diplomacy of Dong-A University, graduating in 1987.[1]
Political career
After serving as Secretary-General of the Namhae farmers' association from 1987, Kim was prefect of Namhae County in the 1990s. He failed in a bid to become governor of South Gyeongsang in 2002. In 2003, he was chosen as Minister for Government Administration and Home Affairs by Roh Moo-hyun, but on 3 September of that year the National Assembly voted to dismiss him. He unsuccessfully contested Namhae in the 2004 National Assembly elections for the Uri Party, winning 16.9% of the vote.[2] He subsequently lost a second attempt to become governor in 2006.
Governorship
In the 2010 local elections, Kim won an upset victory in the South Gyeongsang gubernatorial election as an independent candidate, and took office as governor on 1 July 2010. Despite originally promising to maintain his independence, in February 2011 he joined the Democratic United Party.[3]
Party politics
After the party's defeat in the 2012 parliamentary elections, Kim emerged as an alternative candidate for the DUP nomination for that year's presidential election,[4] though he had been considered as a potential frontrunner beforehand.[5] He has been termed the "little Roh Moo-hyun" on account of his unprivileged background and his principles.[3]
Kim declared his candidacy for the 2025 South Korean presidential election.[6] However, he withdrew from the campaign on 18 April, after he had criticized the Democratic Party's rules in conducting its primaries as being biased in favor of another candidate.[7]
References
- ^ 김두관 경남도지사 "공무원노조는 중요한 정책파트너" (in Korean). MK News, 8 June 2010. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
- ^ 준합개표현황 (in Korean). KBS, retrieved 20 April 2012.
- ^ a b Kim setting out on Dec. presidential run? Archived 2012-05-20 at the Wayback Machine. The Korea Herald, 19 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
- ^ Presidential hopefuls making moves. The Korea Times, 19 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
- ^ Dingankar, M. An Overview of South Korean politics. Institute for Defense Studies & Analyses, 1 July 2010. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
- ^ "Kim Du-kwan announces presidential candidacy as first progressive contender in Korea". ChosunBiz. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
- ^ "Kim Doo-kwan exits race, setting stage for three-way Democratic Party race". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2025-04-18.