Kim Jae-won
Overview
Kim Jae-won (born February 28, 1964) is a South Korean politician and former legal professional. He served as a member of the National Assembly for the 17th, 18th, and 19th terms and is currently active as a member of the People Power Party. Coming from a legal background, he entered politics after working as a prosecutor and is regarded as one of the representative figures of the conservative camp. Currently, he serves as a Supreme Council member of the People Power Party, participating in major party decision-making.
Main Content
Early Life and Education
Kim Jae-won was born in 1964 in Sangju, Gyeongsangbuk-do. After graduating from Daegu Commercial High School, he entered Seoul National University's College of Law, where he earned a Bachelor of Laws degree. Subsequently, he passed the bar exam and embarked on a career as a legal professional.
Legal Career
After passing the bar exam, he completed the Judicial Research and Training Institute and was appointed as a prosecutor. He served as a prosecutor at the Daegu District Prosecutors' Office and the Seoul District Prosecutors' Office, handling various cases. During his tenure as a prosecutor, he was recognized for his competence in handling major cases, including corruption and economic cases. Later, he opened a private law practice and worked as a lawyer before entering politics.
Political Career
Early Political Activities
In the 2004 17th National Assembly election, Kim Jae-won ran as a candidate for the Grand National Party in the Sangju-si·Gunwi-gun·Uiseong-gun·Cheongsong-gun constituency of Gyeongsangbuk-do and was elected. He was subsequently re-elected in the 2008 18th and 2012 19th National Assembly elections, achieving three consecutive terms as a lawmaker.
Major Legislative Activities
During his tenure as a member of the National Assembly, he served on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, the Strategy and Finance Committee, and the Public Administration and Security Committee. In particular, on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, he leveraged his expertise as a former legal professional to contribute to legal amendments and institutional improvements. He also served as a member of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, participating in deliberations on national fiscal management.
Party Roles
Within the Grand National Party (now the People Power Party), he held key party positions such as Deputy Floor Leader, Vice Chairman of the Policy Committee, and Secretary-General. In the 2020 21st National Assembly election, he ran as a candidate for the United Future Party (the predecessor of the People Power Party) but was not elected. He has remained active within the party and was elected as a Supreme Council member of the People Power Party in 2023, participating in major party decisions.
Political Stance
Kim Jae-won is a conservative politician who values economic liberalism and traditional values. As a former legal professional, he emphasizes the rule of law and a fair society, maintaining a conservative stance on issues related to judicial reform, such as prosecution reform. He also takes a hardline stance on North Korea policy, with firm convictions regarding security and national defense.
Controversies and Criticism
He has been embroiled in several controversies during his political career. Notably, during the 2016 political scandal (Choi Soon-sil gate), he was identified as a close associate of former President Park Geun-hye and faced criticism. Additionally, his remarks and actions during various election campaigns have made him a target of political attacks. Despite these controversies, he has maintained his support base in his constituency and within the party.
Latest Trends
As of 2024, Kim Jae-won is active as a Supreme Council member of the People Power Party, fulfilling the role of a senior politician within the party. In the 22nd National Assembly election held in April 2024, there were controversies during the nomination process, but he has since worked toward party unity. Recently, he has been actively communicating through YouTube channels and social media, representing the voice of the conservative camp. As of 2025, ahead of the next election, he is strengthening his position as a party strategist, particularly leveraging his expertise from the legal field to participate in the development of judicial reform policies.
Related Topics
- [[People Power Party]]
- [[Member of the National Assembly (South Korea)]]
- [[Grand National Party]]
- [[Conservatism]]
- [[Bar exam (South Korea)]]
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