Three-Term Veteran and First-Ever Five-Time Party Secretary-General
The Only Lawmaker from Jeonbuk to Support Lee Jaemyung in the 2021 Presidential Primary
Close Ties with the Ministry’s Labor Union... Also Named Outstanding Lawmaker in National Assembly Inspection
Facing Challenges: Stabilizing Real Estate, Reviving Construction, and Achieving Balanced Regional Development
What Real Estate Does He Own? One Home in His Jeonju Constituency
Kim Yoonduk, nominated by President Lee Jaemyung on July 11 as the candidate for Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, is widely regarded both inside and outside political circles as a key figure closely aligned with Lee. During the 2021 Democratic Party primary for the 20th presidential election, he was the only lawmaker from the Jeonbuk region to support Lee Jaemyung, and is considered one of the president’s closest confidants. As a three-term lawmaker, Kim has established a strong foothold in the party, having served as secretary-general for an unprecedented five consecutive terms. Having held core positions in both the party and government, Kim is expected to move to the center of policy execution through this cabinet reshuffle and take the lead in directing the Lee Jaemyung administration’s land policy.
Kim’s nomination is seen as a strategic move to achieve both organizational stability within the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and strong on-the-ground leadership. Since the Moon Jaein administration, he has built close ties with the ministry’s labor union through his work on the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee. In fact, he was selected as the “Outstanding Lawmaker of the 2021 National Assembly Inspection” by the ministry’s labor union. Serving as a committee member from 2020 to 2022, Kim accumulated knowledge and experience related to the ministry.
Kim faces a number of pressing challenges. First, stabilizing the real estate market is urgent. Amid rising housing prices and the impact of lending regulations (DSR Phase 3, June 27 measures), instability persists in the jeonse and monthly rent markets, as well as polarization between the Seoul metropolitan area and the provinces. Given Kim’s previous positive stance on protecting genuine homebuyers and expanding rental housing during his time as vice chair of the Democratic Party’s Housing Welfare Special Committee, he is expected to further strengthen the Lee Jaemyung administration’s “real residence-centered supply policy.”
Reviving the sluggish construction sector is also a key task. With recent increases in pre-sale prices, rising raw material costs, and growing risks of unsold units fueling concerns about bankruptcies among small and mid-sized construction firms, Kim is likely to focus on calibrating the pace of public redevelopment and private sector participation projects, as well as devising incentives.
In the area of balanced regional development, the “Five Regions, Three Special Zones” (5-geuk 3-teuk) strategy is drawing attention. Development strategies for five regions (the Seoul metropolitan area, Southeast, Daegu-Gyeongbuk, Central, and Honam) and policies to foster three special zones (Jeju, Gangwon, and Jeonbuk) are likely to gain momentum. In particular, Kim is expected to pay special attention to the development of Jeonbuk, one of the three special zones and his home region. With a Jeonbuk native at the helm of the ministry, there is anticipation for progress in projects such as Saemangeum waterfront tourism, hydrogen and RE100 industrial complexes, and the creation of a global logistics hub. Kim is expected to play a central role in cooperation with Jeonbuk Province.
Fostering advanced transportation industries such as urban air mobility (UAM), national digital twins, and autonomous driving infrastructure is also on the agenda. Institutional reforms to strengthen urban safety management?addressing issues such as ground subsidence, collapses, and fires?are inevitable. With public distrust in the ministry’s safety management capabilities growing due to a series of recent ground subsidence incidents and construction site accidents, attention is focused on whether Kim will overhaul the safety supervision system and revise technical standards.
Meanwhile, Kim owns a single home in his constituency. In the high-ranking officials’ asset disclosure in March, he reported ownership?under his spouse’s name?of a 130-square-meter apartment in Poonglim Iwon, Jeonju, Jeonbuk. The declared value was 400 million won, while the KB market price was approximately 462 million won.
Upon his nomination, Kim stated, “I have been nominated as the first Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in the government of popular sovereignty. The gravity of the situation makes me feel a heavy sense of responsibility,” adding, “I will approach the confirmation hearing with sincerity and humility.”
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