Kim Jae-yeon
김재연
Leader of the Progressive Party
In office
20 June 2020 – 31 July 2022
Preceded byLee Sang-kyu
Member of the National Assembly
In office
30 May 2012 – 19 December 2014
ConstituencyProportional
Personal details
Born (1980-10-30) 30 October 1980
Daegu, South Korea
CitizenshipSouth Korean
Political partyProgressive
Other political
affiliations		DLP (2006–2011)
UPP (2011–2014)
PUP (2016–2017)
Minjung (2017–2020)
Spouse
Choi Ho-hyun
​
​
(m. 2010; died 2023)​
Alma materHankuk University of Foreign Studies
OccupationActivist, politician

Kim Jae-yeon (Korean: 김재연; born 30 October 1980) is a South Korean politician and former activist. She was the Leader of the Progressive Party from 2020 to 2022. She was also the former Member of the National Assembly from 2012 to 2014, as well as their presidential candidate during the 2022 South Korean presidential election.

A former activist, she joined and led various social activities. Being similar to Lee Jung-hee, she was often known as "the other Lee".[1][2] However, critics have denounced her for pro-North Korea views.[3][1]

Early life and education

Kim Jae-yeon was born as a daughter of a conservative family in Daegu but moved to Seoul for secondary education.[4] She joined MBC Children Choir during primary Form 4.[4]

She was educated at Daeil Foreign Language High School.[4][1][2] However, in an interview with the left-leaning Voice of the People, she revealed that she did not study properly as a protest against the high school's "competitive" system, adding that the high school was what her parents wanted.[4] She also continued that she rather wrote several poems and fell in love with student activism.[4]

Following the graduation, she attended Hankuk University of Foreign Studies from 1999.[4][1][2] She studied Russian at there.[4][1][2]

Career

She began her activist career in 2000, when the demolition of the shooting range of Maehyang-ri (owned by United States Forces Korea) had become an issue.[4] In 2002, she was elected the President of the Student Council of her university.[4][1][2][5] The same year, she ran for the presidency of the South Korean Federation of University Students Councils (SKFUSC), a notable left-leaning student organisation in South Korea, but lost.[4][5] She was a reformist with in the organisation.[5]

Due to this career, she and other members were wanted by the Government for 3 years.[4][1][2] However, she later revealed that she was never arrested as police are not allowed to enter the campus.[4] She was firstly detained by police in November 2004 for leading a protest for the abolishment of the National Security Act in front of the National Assembly Proceeding Hall.[4][1][2]

Political career

In 2006, she joined the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) and was subsequently appointed the Deputy Spokesperson, as well as the Director of the Student Organisation.[4][1][2]

Prior to the 2008 election, the DLP faced an internal conflict[4] and the dissidents including Sim Sang-jung left the party and formed the New Progressive Party (NPP). In order to overcome its hardship, the party brought a decision to put as many candidates for constituencies as possible.[4][1][2] As no candidates were in Gangnam District, Seoul, Kim registered for Gangnam 2nd constituency[1][2] to be "rooted" in the area.[4] She received approximately 4.9% and was not elected.[4]

Following the defeat, she briefly returned as an activist amid the US beef protest.[4] In 2011, she served as the President of the Commission of 21C Korea College Students' Union.[6][5]

Member of the National Assembly

On 12 March 2012, prior to the 2012 election, Kim was selected the 3rd list of the Unified Progressive Party (UPP), defeating Kim Ji-yoon.[7][8] She was elected to the National Assembly, making her as the first MP graduated from foreign language school in South Korean history.[9]

From 9 to 28 November, she visited 9 universities, including Jeonbuk National University, Pusan National University and Korea University.[10] In Chungbuk National University, she received requests from students to change the old chairs and desks, as well as enhancing the air conditioning and heating systems.[10] She then sent these requests to the Chancellor.[10] Some students gave positive and supportive responds.[10]

On 20 January 2013, Kim suggested an amendment of the Income Tax Act that includes religious taxation.[11] On 22 February, during the hearing session of the Deputy Prime Minister-nominee Hyun Oh-seok, she revealed that Hyun had acquired a master's degree in public administration at Seoul National University during the national service.[12] On 5 September, she was appointed the spokesperson of the UPP, formerly solely served by Hong Sung-kyu.[13]

On 6 November, the UPP MPs including Kim, shaved their heads as a sign of protest against the Government's suggestion to ban and dissolve their parties,[14][15] suggested by the then Justice Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn.[16] Soon, they also launched an indefinite hunger strike.[17] 15 days later, she was brought to a hospital.[18] Despite of their protests, the Constitutional Court ordered the dissolution and prohibition of the party on 19 December 2014, in which the elections of its all MPs were nullified.[19]

Post-MP career

Following her removal as an MP, she opened an account of afreecaTV on 25 August 2015.[20]

On 20 March 2016, prior to the 2016 election, she joined the newly formed People's United Party (PUP), in which was denounced as the "another UPP" by critics.[21] She ran for Uijeongbu 2nd constituency[22] but lost.[23] In the end of the year, she opened a bookshop named Bookshop of Life.[24]

In December 2017, following the PUP's merger with the New People's Party (NPP) into the Minjung Party, she was appointed the spokesperson.[25] In February 2020, she was again selected the Minjung candidate for Uijeongbu 2nd constituency at the 2020 election,[26] but came behind of Kim Min-chul and Lee Hyung-seop.[27]

Leader of the Progressive Party

On 20 June 2020, Kim was elected the Leader of the Minjung Party,[28][29] following the resignation of the predecessor Lee Sang-kyu. The party also changed its name to the Progressive Party.[28][29]

Political position

Education

Kim is a supporter of full free education, from kindergarten to university.[30] In 2007, she said that should the then President Roh Moo-hyun purchased at least 6% of the education budget, at least 70% students can be educated freely.[31] She also advocates an interest-free student loan.[31]

LGBT rights

In April 2013, she was one of MPs suggested the Anti-discrimination Law to the National Assembly.[32][33] The law prohibits discrimination against minorities i.e. LGBT, immigrants, women and so on.[32] Though the law was advocated by LGBT activists, those on the Christian right harshly criticised the law.[32][33] 2 DUP MPs — Kim Han-gil and Choi Won-shik, who also suggested the law, withdrew their decisions.[33]

In January 2018, she publicly supported a TV programme Candid Men and Women for broadcasting issues related to LGBT rights.[34]

North Korea

Since her MP career, right-leaning critics have been denouncing her as "pro-North Korea".[3][1]

On 4 June 2012, during an interview with KBS, the emcee asked her to confirm her view towards North Korea.[3] She answered, "If a person does not want to recognise North Korean regime, it means that he/she wants a war with them".[3][35] When the emcee also asked about what if North Korea attacks the South, she replied, "Still, we should not fight back."[3][35]

Personal life

Kim met Choi Ho-hyun, the founder of the Capitalism Research Society, in 2009.[4] Both then married in March 2010.[4][36] She was arrested by police in April 2011 for owning approximately 90 books praising Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, such as With the Century.[36][37] According to police, she also shared the book to her fellow party members in September 2007.[36] She had also previously visited Venezuela and Cuba.[36] In February 2017, she revealed that her husband was studying in Germany. Her husband passed away on 22 April 2023.[38]

Election results

General elections

YearConstituencyPolitical partyVotes (%)Remarks
2008Gangnam 2ndDLP4,535 (4.93%)Defeated
2012PR (3rd)UPP2,198,082 (10.30%)Elected
2016Uijeongbu 2ndPUP3,810 (3.76%)Defeated
2020Uijeongbu 2ndMinjung5,536 (4.33%)Defeated

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "미니스커트 입고 국회 입성했다가 통진당 해산으로 물러난 34세 김재연은 누구?". 22 December 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "김재연 전 통진당 의원, 신은미 강제 출국에 "억눌렸던 분노가 비집고 나온다"". 13 January 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "김재연 "北체제 거부는 전쟁한다는 소리" 막말". 5 June 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 "3년의 수배생활, 국보법 구속자의 아내..."10년을 2030 운동에 던진 똑순이"". 25 March 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "한대련 주류와 통합진보당 당권파의 밀월관계". 15 May 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  6. ↑ "발언하는 김재연 한대련 집행위원장". 7 July 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  7. ↑ "통합진보당 청년비례대표 후보에 김재연씨 최종 선출". 12 March 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  8. ↑ "통합진보 청년 비례대표 김재연 확정, 3번 배정". 13 March 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  9. ↑ "'옛 통진당 의원' 김재연 총선 출마 선언...누구? '첫 외고출신 국회의원'". 28 December 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "대학가에 '수첩 의원'이 떴다..김재연의 색다른 의정활동 '호평'". 29 November 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  11. ↑ "김재연 의원 '종교인 소득 과세' 법안 발의". 20 January 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  12. ↑ "김재연 "현오석, 병역근무중 주간 석사학위 취득"". 22 February 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  13. ↑ "통진당 공동 대변인에 김재연 의원". 5 September 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  14. ↑ "통진당 김재연 의원 삭발, 입술 굳게 다물고…". 6 November 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  15. ↑ "김재연, 삭발 인증샷 "목숨 걸고 싸우겠다"". 6 November 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  16. ↑ "진보당 해산심판 청구…사건번호 '2013 헌다 1'(종합2보)". 5 November 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  17. ↑ "김재연 삭발 투쟁, 이제는 단식농성 돌입.. 전원 삭발". 6 November 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  18. ↑ "통합진보 김재연도 단식농성 후유증 병원 실려가". 21 November 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  19. ↑ "이석기 등 통진당 5명 의원직 상실 선고 이유는". 19 December 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  20. ↑ "김재연 前 의원, 아프리카TV BJ 변신". 8 September 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  21. ↑ "김재연·김선동 민중연합당 입당… 제2의 통진당?". 20 March 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  22. ↑ "국회의원 선거 의정부(을) 민중연합당 김재연 후보". 1 April 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  23. ↑ "통진당 출신 2명, 무소속으로 입성". 14 April 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  24. ↑ "서점 연 김재연 전 통진당 의원…"책으로 주민과 소통"". 31 December 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  25. ↑ "한국당 "文대통령, 종북인사 특별사면하면 국민저항 부를것"". 4 December 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  26. ↑ "김재연 민중당 의정부시(을) 선거구 후보 확정". 3 February 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  27. ↑ "21대 국회의원 의정부갑 선거결과 "정당 찬스만 있고, 아빠 찬스는 없었다"". 17 April 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  28. 1 2 "민중당, 진보당으로 당명 변경…김재연, 신임 당대표 선출". 20 June 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  29. 1 2 "이석기·이정희의 통진당→민중당→진보당…대표는 김재연". 21 June 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  30. ↑ "김재연 후보 "반환 미군기지 개발비 100% 국가 지원" 등 공약 발표". 5 March 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  31. 1 2 ""'등록금 개선책' 통과 안 시킨 보수양당, 말 바꾸기 괘씸"". 1 February 2007. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  32. 1 2 3 "김재연, "차별금지법 통과 흔들림 없이 노력"". 22 April 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  33. 1 2 3 "김재연 "차별금지법 흔들림 없이 추진…철회 없다"". 19 April 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  34. ↑ "민중당 김재연 대변인, EBS 성소수자 프로그램 '까칠남녀' 응원". 11 January 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  35. 1 2 "김재연 "北 김정은 체제 인정, 체제 거부는 '전쟁하자'는 얘기"". 5 June 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  36. 1 2 3 4 "김재연 남편 최호현, 국보법 위반으로 유죄판결 받아". 6 May 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  37. ↑ "김재연·김미희…당권파 그녀들…남편도 NL계 핵심역 '부창부수'". 17 May 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  38. ↑ "맘마이스 #5 김재연 "의원배지 잃고 조선일보 배달했다" #김용민 #정영진 #최욱". 16 February 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
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