[Profile] An Kyung-duk, Nominee for Minister of Employment and Labor... Government Official Turned Labor Policy Expert

Ahn Kyung-duk, the newly appointed Minister of Employment and Labor. (Photo by Cheong Wa Dae)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Ahn Kyung-duk, nominated on the 16th as the Minister of Employment and Labor, is known as a traditional bureaucrat from the Ministry of Employment and Labor with extensive experience in various labor fields.

He is regarded as a labor policy expert with experience spanning labor-management relations, industrial accident safety, and employment policies. Based on his career in key positions, including ministry operations and leading tripartite dialogues, it is expected that he will approach various labor issues in a stable manner.

Candidate Ahn was born in 1963 in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, and graduated from Chuncheon High School and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies with a degree in Political Science and Diplomacy.

He began his public service career by passing the 33rd Administrative Examination in 1989. In 2011, he served as spokesperson, and in 2014, he held positions such as Director of the Industrial Accident Prevention and Compensation Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, Director of the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office, and Secretary General of the Central Labor Relations Commission.

Afterwards, he served as Director of the Labor Policy Office and Director of the Planning and Coordination Office, key positions within the Ministry of Employment and Labor, and from September 2019, he has been active as a standing member of the 2nd Economic, Social and Labor Council (Gyeongsanowi), a presidential advisory social dialogue body.

If appointed as minister, Ahn will be the fifth minister to come from within the Ministry of Employment and Labor. Previously, ministers Yoo Yong-tae, Lee Chae-pil, Lee Ki-kwon, and Lee Jae-gap were appointed from within the ministry.

◇Career

▲Born 1963 ▲Chuncheon High School, Gangwon ▲Political Science and Diplomacy, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies ▲33rd Administrative Examination ▲Director, Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office ▲Director, Labor Policy Office, Ministry of Employment and Labor ▲Director, Planning and Coordination Office, Ministry of Employment and Labor ▲Standing Member, Economic, Social and Labor Council