[22nd Rising Star]⑮ 'Ubuntu Spirit' Kim Hyun-jung "I Will Pursue Politics That Delivers Results"

Elected as Democratic Party Candidate in Pyeongtaek-byeong
Former Chairman of the Minnojong Office and Financial Workers' Union
"Will Promote Legislation Including the Online Wholesale Market Act"

Editor's NoteThere are 131 first-term lawmakers entering the 22nd National Assembly. This is the lowest number since the 16th National Assembly in 2000, which had 112. Amid a political landscape where the ruling party is in the minority, the public expects these lawmakers to lead politics of dialogue and compromise and deliver tangible results. We introduce the elected officials who are expected to bring a fresh breeze to the 22nd National Assembly. ① Park Ji-hye ② Go Dong-jin ③ Kwak Sang-eon ④ Park Soo-min ⑤ Park Chung-kwon ⑥ Seo Myung-ok ⑦ Lim Mi-ae ⑧ Choi Eun-seok ⑨ Boo Seung-chan ⑩ Wi Seong-rak ⑪ Jo Seung-hwan ⑫ Kim Nam-hee ⑬ Kim Jun-hyung ⑭ Park Sung-hoon ⑮ Kim Hyun-jung

Among the words Kim Hyun-jung, the Democratic Party candidate who won the 22nd general election in the Pyeongtaek-si Byeong district of Gyeonggi Province and entered the National Assembly, habitually uses is "performance." Whether during her time in the labor union, after entering politics, or after being elected as a lawmaker, she always talks about "performance." This is because she believes that the only thing she can return to those who trusted and supported her is "performance."

Using the election slogan "Say what I have to say and do what I have to do," she said in an interview with Asia Economy on the 21st, "I think even a strong labor union is about bringing actual benefits to its members," adding, "Even now, I am determined to engage in politics that delivers results." Just as she did in labor union activities, she intends to prove through the "performance" of her four years of legislative work that the voters' choice was correct.

Although this is her first time entering the National Assembly, her political career began four years ago. Kim said, "Actually, I was recruited as a talent by the Democratic Party four years ago, but due to the introduction of the semi-proportional representation system, I went to run in a district instead of receiving a proportional representation nomination," adding, "I received the district nomination on March 2nd, but the election was on April 15th. I campaigned hard for a month and a half but ultimately lost by a margin of 1.56 percentage points."

The first feeling she experienced at that time was "helplessness." It was her first time in politics, she lost the election, and she had no idea what to do next. Her choice was to give a "concession greeting." "I cried inside but greeted people morning and night," she said. "The opposing candidate said I would eventually leave Pyeongtaek, but I promised voters I would make Pyeongtaek my second hometown. I kept that promise." Over the past four years, she strengthened her local base as a regional committee chairperson while serving as an emergency committee member, spokesperson, and media special advisor to the party leader, increasing her political stature. As a result, she won this general election by a margin of 9.23 percentage points.

Kim Hyunjung, elected member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is giving an interview to Asia Economy at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 21st. Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

Before becoming a politician, Kim was actually famous for the word "Ubuntu." After joining a financial company and serving as the chairperson of the Financial Services Union of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, symbolized by the "necktie brigade," she concluded during the process of envisioning the future of the Financial Services Union after the 2017 Candlelight Revolution that inequality and polarization are the biggest problems in our society. Kim said, "The union has tried to solve these problems through struggle. They claim that issues like irregular workers and subcontracting should be resolved by companies and the government, which implies that the companies and government are the main agents of resolution," adding, "We broke that perception and created the Ubuntu Foundation to proactively lead efforts to resolve inequality and polarization."

Ubuntu is a word from the Arkararosa people, made known through former South African President Nelson Mandela, meaning "I am because you are." Interpreting this word as meaning "coexistence, solidarity, and mutual aid," Kim said, "It is exactly the same as the spirit of Jeon Tae-il in our country," adding, "Inspired by this, we established the Ubuntu Foundation." The Ubuntu Foundation is a foundation jointly established by companies and labor unions that conducts various social solidarity activities, including issues related to irregular workers and special employment.

The background of her entry into politics is also linked to the Ubuntu Foundation. She entered politics through recruitment as a talent recommended by key figures within the Democratic Party. While the Korean Federation of Trade Unions has seen leadership-level figures enter politics through policy alliances, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions had no such policy agreements. Instead, Democratic Party figures who took note of the Ubuntu movement scouted her into politics solely through recommendations.

Having graduated from law school and worked in the legal team of a card company, how did she get involved in labor activism? Kim recalled, "I helped employees with lawsuits and other matters, and perhaps due to my personality, I would advise superiors not to abuse their power in the workplace. The union noticed this and asked me to work with them," adding, "I initially declined but kept receiving offers and eventually accepted. That's how I spent 20 years in labor activism."

Kim Hyunjung, elected member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is giving an interview to Asia Economy at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 21st. Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

Kim said that once her legislative activities begin, she plans to create the Online Wholesale Market Act to deliver results. She explained, "It is a law that allows auctions to be conducted online, which can shorten the distribution stages among sellers, buyers, and consumers," adding, "Reducing distribution stages also has the effect of lowering prices." Kim said, "There are about 32 wholesale markets nationwide. For example, in my district, Pyeongtaek, agricultural products are sent to the Garak Market in Seoul for auction and then brought back," adding, "Since the distribution margin is about 50%, if Pyeongtaek residents traded directly, they could buy at half the price."

Additionally, she said, "I will establish an Agricultural Products Distribution Center in Pyeongtaek to increase local farmers' income and stabilize agricultural product prices in the metropolitan area." Furthermore, Kim expressed, "I want to support labor-related issues like the Yellow Envelope Act and also create bills related to social solidarity movements," adding, "I plan to promote the legal institutionalization of social solidarity through legislation." She said, "I will form a kind of labor bloc with labor-origin lawmakers in the National Assembly to propose agendas and adopt party positions."

Regarding local issues, she pledged to increase national funding for the GTX line extension to Pyeongtaek. She said, "The extension of GTX lines A and C to Pyeongtaek has been decided, but the extension costs are to be borne by the Pyeongtaek municipal government," adding, "The cost amounts to 370 billion won, and I will work to secure national funding for this." She also revealed plans to revise the Pyeongtaek Special Support Act, which has been extended continuously after the U.S. military base, by creating a special law for the U.S. military base relocation to allow continuous support without sunset provisions.