[Profile] Kang Sunwoo, Minister of Gender Equality and Family Nominee... Policy Expert for the Socially Disadvantaged

Democratic Party Lawmaker Serving Second Term
Secretary of the Health and Welfare Committee

On June 23, Kang Sunwoo, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea who was nominated as the first Minister of Gender Equality and Family in the Lee Jaemyung administration, is regarded as a policy expert who has worked for the benefit of socially disadvantaged groups.

Kang, who was born in Daegu in 1978, is currently serving her second term as a lawmaker with the Democratic Party of Korea and is the secretary of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee. She also serves as the co-chair of the National Innovation Council for The Minjoo Party, which is considered the largest pro-Lee Jaemyung faction within the party.

Yonhap News

Kang graduated from Gyeongsang Girls' High School and Ewha Womans University's Department of English Education, and earned a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Wisconsin in the United States. She subsequently worked as a professor at South Dakota State University until 2016.

In the 20th general election, Kang was ranked 29th on the Democratic Party's proportional representation list but was not elected. She later served as a standing member of the National Unification Advisory Council and was elected in the 21st general election to represent Gangseo-gap, Seoul. During her first term, she served as spokesperson and deputy floor leader, and participated in the Health and Welfare Committee, Gender Equality and Family Committee, and Special Committee on Budget and Accounts.

The presidential office described Kang as "a policy expert who has worked to protect the rights and interests of socially disadvantaged groups through her roles as secretary of the Health and Welfare Committee and as a member of the Gender Equality and Family Committee." The office added, "Based on communication and attentive listening, she will work to resolve social conflicts in our society."

The position of Minister of Gender Equality and Family has remained vacant for one year and four months since the resignation of former minister Kim Hyunsook in February last year. Kim resigned following the disruption of the '2023 Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree.' Subsequently, the Yoon Sukyeol administration nominated Kim Haeng, a former emergency committee member of the People Power Party, as minister, but the nomination was withdrawn during the confirmation hearing process.