[Profile] Vice Minister of Employment and Labor Kwon Changjun: Proactive Employment and Labor Expert

Pioneering Labor Reform Initiatives During the Yoon Sukyeol Administration

Kwon Changjun, Director General for Planning and Coordination at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, has been appointed as the first Vice Minister of Employment and Labor under the new administration.

Kwon Changjun, Vice Minister of Employment and Labor. Photo by Yonhap News

On June 26, President Lee Jaemyung appointed Director General Kwon as Vice Minister of Employment and Labor.

Vice Minister Kwon was born in 1969 in Yecheon, North Gyeongsang Province. He graduated from Youngjin High School in Daegu and the Department of Public Administration at Yonsei University. He later earned a master's degree from Michigan State University in the United States and a doctorate in law from Dankook University. After passing the 40th Higher Civil Service Examination, he began his public service career and has held key positions including Standing Commissioner of the Gyeonggi Regional Labor Relations Commission, Director of Youth Employment Policy, and Director of Labor-Management Cooperation Policy at the Ministry of Employment and Labor.

From 2017 to 2020, during the Moon Jaein administration, he served as an administrator in the Employment and Labor Secretary's Office at the Blue House. Under the Yoon Sukyeol administration, he was the first to assume the newly established position of Director of Labor Reform Policy, where he introduced the labor union accounting disclosure system. After his promotion in February, he served as Director General for Planning and Coordination. He is regarded as a hands-on expert with comprehensive experience in major areas of employment and labor policy.

On the same day, Kang Yujeong, spokesperson for the President, stated during a briefing that "(Vice Minister Kwon) conducted an unprecedented large-scale interview survey to improve the labor environment" and introduced him as having a strength in proactive work, such as forming a labor future forum with youth participation.

▲ Yecheon, North Gyeongsang Province ▲ Youngjin High School in Daegu ▲ Department of Public Administration, Yonsei University ▲ Master's degree from Michigan State University, United States ▲ Doctorate in Law from Dankook University ▲ 40th Higher Civil Service Examination ▲ Director of Vocational Competency Policy, Ministry of Employment and Labor ▲ Secretary to the Minister of Employment and Labor ▲ Administrator, Employment and Labor Secretary's Office, Blue House ▲ Standing Commissioner, Gyeonggi Regional Labor Relations Commission ▲ Director of Labor-Management Cooperation Policy, Director of Labor Reform Policy, Director General for Planning and Coordination, Ministry of Employment and Labor