[Politics, That Day...] The '30s Politician' Craze That Was Hotter 20 Years Ago

The Prime Era of 30s Politicians Was in the 2000s... Nam Kyung-pil, Kim Min-seok, Won Hee-ryong, and Im Jong-seok Leading the Wave
Young Politicians 20 Years Ago Elected as Members of the National Assembly in Their Early to Mid-30s and Growing into Political Leaders

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min]

Editor's Note‘Politics, That Day...’ is a series planning corner that looks back on Korean politics through the ‘recollection of memories’ related to scenes, events, and figures that deserve attention.

Former Gyeonggi Governor Nam Kyung-pil // Suwon=Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

The People Power Party leadership election was notable for the political momentum of politician Lee Jun-seok. Born in March 1985, politician Lee Jun-seok challenged for the leadership of the main opposition party at the age of 36 and received the spotlight during the primary election period.

Was it because it felt unfamiliar for someone in their mid-30s to take on the heavy responsibility of leading the main opposition party? The interest in the young politician's challenge is closely related to the desire for change in Korean politics. In terms of appointing young politicians, Korean politics has actually regressed compared to the past.

If we go back 20 years from now, the challenge of a politician in their 30s was not an unfamiliar sight. The turn of the 2000s can be called the prime era of politicians in their 30s.

Politician Nam Kyung-pil, known as the ‘eternal young faction,’ also appeared to the public at this time. Born in January 1965, politician Nam Kyung-pil ran as a candidate for the National Assembly in Paldal-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, in a by-election in July 1998 and was elected. At the time politician Nam Kyung-pil entered the National Assembly, he was 33 years old.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

After entering the National Assembly, politician Nam Kyung-pil led the Hanara Party reform movement along with then-members Won Hee-ryong and Chung Byung-guk. Later, politician Nam Kyung-pil became a five-term senior lawmaker and also served as governor of Gyeonggi Province, a metropolitan local government. The young politician in his early 30s grew into a presidential candidate-level figure through the 2000s.

Former Blue House Chief of Staff Lim Jong-seok was also elected to the National Assembly at the age of 33, the same as former Governor Nam Kyung-pil. Born in April 1966, Lim ran as a candidate for the National Assembly in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, in the 16th general election in April 2000 and was elected.

Lim, who served as a two-term lawmaker, also held positions as Seoul’s Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs and Chief of Staff at the Blue House. His political status rose to the extent that he was mentioned as a presidential candidate regardless of his own will. Especially, while serving as Chief of Staff at the Moon Jae-in administration’s Blue House, he led the inter-Korean summits, demonstrating a bold style of politics.

Won Hee-ryong, Governor of Jeju Province. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

Governor Won Hee-ryong of Jeju Province is also a symbol of young politicians representing the 2000s. Born in February 1964, Won entered the National Assembly through the 16th general election in April 2000 at the age of 36. He was a leading figure in driving reform in conservative parties in the 2000s along with former Governor Nam Kyung-pil.

He served as a three-term lawmaker and was elected governor of Jeju Province twice. He is expected to run in the presidential election next May. Having started politics in his mid-30s, he is preparing for his final challenge after gaining diverse experiences as a lawmaker and metropolitan local government head.

When mentioning politicians in their 30s who made a name for themselves in the 2000s, politician Kim Min-seok cannot be left out. Currently a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, he was elected as a candidate of the New Politics National Congress in the 15th general election in 1996 for the Yeongdeungpo-eul district in Seoul.

Born in May 1964, Kim Min-seok was only 32 years old when he became a first-term lawmaker. Although former Chief of Staff Lim entered the National Assembly relatively early, politician Kim Min-seok became a lawmaker at an even younger age.

Kim Min-seok, Chairman of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee. / Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Politician Kim Min-seok was not just any lawmaker. In 2002, at the age of 38, he ran as the Democratic Party candidate for Seoul mayor, and if elected, he could have grown into a strong presidential candidate.

At that time, Kim Min-seok, the New Millennium Democratic Party’s Seoul mayoral candidate, faced former President Lee Myung-bak. Lee Myung-bak ran as the Hanara Party’s Seoul mayor candidate and was elected with 52.3% of the vote. Although Kim Min-seok lost, expectations for him were considerable. The proportion of voters who chose a young 38-year-old Seoul mayor reached 43%.

Twenty years ago, there was a political environment where young politicians in their early to mid-30s could grow into leaders. This phenomenon appeared in both ruling and opposition parties.

What has happened to Korean politics after 20 years? Can the slow growth of young politicians be attributed solely to a lack of capability? Isn’t the essence of the problem the flawed culture of Korean politics that has used young politicians for image improvement and then discarded them at an appropriate time?