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Moon Jae-in

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Template:Korean name

Moon Jae-in
문재인
File:Moon Jae-In.jpg
12th President of South Korea
Assumed office
10 May 2017
Prime MinisterHwang Kyo-ahn
Lee Nak-yeon (Designate)
Preceded byHwang Kyo-ahn (acting)
Leader of the Democratic Party
In office
9 February 2015 – 27 January 2016
Preceded byAhn Cheol-soo
Kim Han-gil
Succeeded byKim Chong-in
Member of the National Assembly
from Sasang
In office
30 May 2012 – 29 May 2016
Preceded byChang Je-won
Succeeded byChang Je-won
Personal details
Born (1953-01-24) 24 January 1953 (age 71)
Geoje, South Korea
Political partyDemocratic Party
SpouseKim Jung-sook
Children2
Alma materKyung Hee University (LLB)
Signature
Military service
Allegiance South Korea
Branch/service Republic of Korea Army
Years of service1975–1977
Rank Byeongjang (Sergeant)
Moon Jae-in
Hangul
문재인
Hanja
Revised RomanizationMun Jaein
McCune–ReischauerMun Chaein
IPAmun.dʑɛ̝.in

Moon Jae-in (Korean pronunciation: [mun.dʑɛ̝.in]; born 24 January 1953) is the 12th and current President of South Korea,[1][2][3] a former human rights attorney and a former student activist.[4]

A former chief-of-staff to the late President Roh Moo-hyun, Moon most recently served as the opposition leader of the Minjoo Party of Korea from 2015 to 2016 and a member of the 19th National Assembly. Previously, he was the Democratic United Party's candidate for the 2012 presidential election after winning a majority in the party primaries, but losing narrowly to Park Geun-hye. He was elected to be the 19th president in the 2017 election by a large plurality against two other major candidates.

Early life and education

Born in Geoje, South Korea, Moon Jae-in was the first son of father Moon Yong-hyung and mother Kang Han-ok among five children. His father was a refugee from South Hamgyeong Province (currently in North Korea) who fled his native city of Hamhung during the Hamhung Retreat. His father settled in Geoje as a laborer for the Geoje POW Camp.

His family eventually settled in Busan and Moon attended Kyungnam High School.[citation needed] He enrolled in Kyunghee University where he majored in law.[5] He was arrested and expelled from the university when he organized a student protest against the Yushin Constitution.[citation needed] Later, he was conscripted to the military and assigned to the Special Forces, where he participated in a military mission during the Axe murder incident.[6]

After his discharge, he passed the Bar Exam and was admitted to the Judicial Research and Training Institute. He graduated second in his class but was not admitted to become a judge or government prosecutor due to his history of activism against the dictatorship as a student.[7] Moon chose to become a lawyer instead.

Early career

Human rights attorney

After becoming a lawyer, he partnered and worked with future President Roh Moo-hyun.[8] They remained friends up until Roh's suicide in 2009. Along with Roh, he took cases involving human rights and civil rights issues. He was a member of Minbyun and the Chairman of Human Rights at Busan Bar.

Hankyoreh

He was a founding member of the progressive South Korean newspaper, The Hankyoreh, in 1988.[9][10]

Roh Moo-hyun administration

Due to Roh's insistence, Moon became Roh's campaign manager during his presidential bid.[11] After Roh's victory, Moon became Roh's chief of staff and close aide. His roles in Roh's administration included:

  • 2003–February 2004: Senior Presidential Secretary for Civil Affairs
  • May 2004–January 2005: Senior Presidential Secretary for Civil Society
  • January 2005–May 2006: Senior Presidential Secretary for Civil Affairs
  • March 2007–February 2008: Chief Secretary of the President
  • August 2007: Chairperson of the Promotion of the 2nd North-South Korea Summit

When prosecutors began investigating Roh's corruption charges, Moon was the legal counsel to Roh. After Roh committed suicide, Moon was in charge of the funeral and handling his private affairs. His exposure to the public as a poised and trustworthy aide impressed the public and many liberals in Korea found Moon to be an attractive candidate against the conservative Saenuri Party candidate Park Geun-hye.

Early political career (2012-2017)

Entrance to politics/National Assembly

Despite his earlier indifference to politics, he began to get involved in the politics. He published a memoir called Moon Jae-in: The Destiny which became a bestseller.[12] His popularity had been rising steady against the likely opponent in the presidential race, Park Geun-hye. For instance, in a February 2012 poll, Moon managed to gain parity with Park in popularity.[13]

Moon managed to capitalize on the conservatives' decline in popularity amid a series of corruption scandals: as one pundit said, "Moon had managed to portray himself as a moderate and rational leader who has the backing of the younger generation".[14]

In 2012, Moon entered a bid for a seat in the National Assembly in the 19th legislative election. Moon won a seat in the Sasang District of Busan on 11 April 2012 as a member of the Democratic United Party with 55% of the vote.[5]

2012 presidential campaign

On September 16, 2012, Moon received the presidential nomination for the Democratic United Party.

He ran for the 2012 presidential election as the Democratic United Party's candidate in a three-way race against Park Geun-hye, the incumbent ruling party’s candidate and daughter of the late president Park Chung-hee,[15] as well as independent software mogul Ahn Cheol-soo. After Ahn bowed out of the race and endorsed Moon after showing the two candidates in a definitive loss were there to be a three-way race, Moon went onto lose the election.

Leader of the opposition

Moon was elected as the leader of New Politics Alliance for Democracy in February 2, 2015. After former party leader and presidential candidate rival Ahn Cheol-soo's departure, Moon scouted several politically prominent people including former police Pyo Chang-won, political critic Lee Chul-hee and notably former president Park's secretary Cho Ung-chun to prepare for upcoming South Korean legislative election, 2016. After his recruitment, Moon resigned his position for another scouted advisor Kim Chong-in.[16]

2017 presidential election

Moon was considered the frontrunner to win Korea's 2017 presidential election following the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye. He won the Minjoo Party's nomination against fellow party members Ahn Hee-jung, Lee Jae-myung, and Choi Sung with 57% of the votes.

The general election originally had 15 announced candidates. Moon faced four other major party nominees during the election, including 2012 presidential rival and past party colleague Ahn Cheol-soo of the People's Party and Hong Jun-pyo of the Liberty Korea Party.

On May 10 2017, Moon ended his campaign by winning 41.08% of the vote to win the plurality to become the next President of South Korea.[17]

Presidency

Moon was sworn into office immediately after official votes were counted on May 10th, replacing Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn. There was no transition period between the election and inauguration, unlike other presidential elections due to the nature of an election following a presidential impeachment.[18] He will serve out the typical single five-year term with his presidential term concluding in 2022.[19]

Political views

National security

Moon came out in favor of repealing Korea's national security laws, which have been alleged by the Korean liberals to be a tool of the historically right-wing establishment of South Korea to restrict and oppress left-wing voices in Korean politics.[citation needed] He also promised to abolish the domestic wing of NIS (National Intelligence Service) in order to maintain their political neutrality, transferring domestic affairs to the police force.[citation needed]

Foreign policy

Moon has favored a peaceful reunification between the two Koreas. He was widely criticized and praised for his comments stating that his first visit if elected president would be to visit North Korea, a visit that would be not unlike Roh Moo-hyun's visit to the country in 2007. Similarly, Moon's foreign policy towards North Korea is considered to closely align with the Sunshine Policy embraced by former liberal presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun.[10]

His 2017 presidential campaign has supported re-opening of the Kaesong Industrial Park.[citation needed]

He has stated he considered himself as "America's friend" for its role in helping South Korea avoid communism while helping its economic growth.[20] At the same time, his more liberal foreign policy is reflected on record, stating in a book, “I’m pro-U.S., but now South Korea should adopt diplomacy in which it can discuss a U.S. request and say no to the Americans.”[21] He opposes a rebalance of the security alliance with the United States, but at the same time stated he would like South Korea "to be able to take the lead on matters on the Korean Peninsula."[10]

Economic policy

Moon's campaign promise in 2017 included intentions to put a 10 trillion won ($8.9 billion) fiscal stimulus to support job creation, start-ups, and small to mid-sized companies. His announced goal is to create 810,000 public sector jobs through raising taxes on the wealthy.[22]

Moon's policy against corporate corruption, specifically in regards to Korean conglomerates in chaebols is to give "minority shareholders more power in electing board members" of the companies.[22]

Transparency

Moon also promised transparency on his presidency, moving the president residence from palatial and isolated Blue House to an existing government complex in downtown Seoul.[23]

Social values

In a televised presidential debate, Moon said he opposes homosexuality, in response to conservative candidate Hong Jun-pyo's remarks that gay soldiers were a source of weakness in the Korean military. Moon's remark, though it could be construed as opposition to homosexual acts among soldiers in particular, prompted immediate criticism during the debate from Sim Sang-jung, the sole presidential candidate to support LGBT rights and a member of the leftist Justice Party.[24] The remark also prompted outrage from gay rights activists, considering Moon's representation as the leading liberal candidate and former human rights lawyer. Some of Moon's supporters dismissed the comments as a necessity to win, as South Korea tends to the conservative side in social issues.[25] Moon later clarified his comments suggesting he still believes there should be no discrimination based on one's sexual orientation.[26]

Personal life

Family

Moon married with Kim Jung-sook, a vocalist from same university with him. He revealed in an interview on the Korean talk show, Healing Camp, that he met his wife as a student activist. During one protest, the person he woke up to tending to him after being knocked out was his future wife. Moon has two children (a daughter and son) with Kim.

Religion

He is the second Roman Catholic leader after the late former President Kim Dae-jung.[27] Moon's baptismal name is "Timothy".[citation needed]

Nicknames

He is also called "Dark king"(冥王, Myeong-wang or myung-wang) because he resembles "Silvers Rayleigh," a character from the Japanese manga "One piece".[28]

References

  1. ^ "South Korea's Moon Jae-in sworn in vowing to address North". BBC News. 10 May 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  2. ^ K.J. Kwon (10 May 2017). "South Korea's Moon Jae-in sworn in vowing to address North". CNN. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  3. ^ "South Korea presidency 'won by liberal Moon Jae-in'".
  4. ^ "Moon Jae-in: Who is South Korea's new president?". BBC News. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  5. ^ a b "문재인 : 네이버 통합검색". search.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-04-28.
  6. ^ "Moon Jae-in: The Negotiator". 2017-05-04. Retrieved 2017-05-10.
  7. ^ "대선주자 인물탐구 민주통합당 문재인". 경남신문. 2012-08-13.
  8. ^ "문재인 "고 노무현 대통령과 첫 만남에 의기투합, 소탈한 모습에...."". TV Report (in Korean). Seoul. 2012-01-10. Retrieved 2017-05-10.
  9. ^ Naver Profile on Moon Jae-in
  10. ^ a b c "South Korea's likely next president warns the U.S. not to meddle in its democracy". Washington Post. Retrieved 2017-05-02.
  11. ^ UnMyeong (destiny). Seoul: Moon Jae In. 2011. pp. 196~205. ISBN 978-89-7777-188-8.
  12. ^ Evan Ramstad Wall Street Journal, Moon Jae-in Steps Back Into the Spotlight, July 21, 2011
  13. ^ Presidential poll: Moon Jae-in neck-and-neck with Park Geun-hye Andy Jackson Feb 18, 2012
  14. ^ Moon rises in open South Korea presidential race Reuters
  15. ^ Associated Press (19 December 2012). "Dictator's daughter elected South Korea's first female president". National Post. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  16. ^ "조응천, 박근혜 정권 '핵심'에서 문재인 영입 20호로". The Hankyoreh (in Korean). 2016-02-02.
  17. ^ Kwon, K. J. (2017-05-10). "South Korea election: Moon Jae-in declared winner". CNN. Retrieved 2017-05-10.
  18. ^ "Liberal Moon Jae-in is winner in South Korea's presidential election". Los Angeles Times. 2017-05-09. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2017-05-09.
  19. ^ "S. Korea's Moon begins term as president after landslide election win confirmed - France 24". France 24. 2017-05-10. Retrieved 2017-05-10.
  20. ^ Choe, Sang-hun (2017-03-10). "Ouster of South Korean President Could Return Liberals to Power". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
  21. ^ Shimbun, The Yomiuri. "Who is Moon Jae In? / Moon's reunification dream raises alarm". The Japan News. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
  22. ^ a b Mullany, Gerry (2017-05-08). "South Korea's Presidential Election: A Look at the Pivotal Issues". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-05-08.
  23. ^ "문재인 "검찰·국정원·청와대 대개혁해야"". KBS. Naver. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  24. ^ "[JTBC 대선토론] 문재인 "동성애 합법화 반대"…심상정 "유감스럽다"". Naver. Hankyung. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  25. ^ News, ABC. "S.Korea presidential hopeful criticized for anti-gay comment". ABC News. Retrieved 2017-04-27. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  26. ^ "What Moon Jae-in's victory means for South Korea". South China Morning Post. South China Morning Post. Retrieved 9 May 2017. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  27. ^ "South Koreans vote for a new president". Mail Online. Retrieved 2017-05-09.
  28. ^ "문재인 "내가 대세 맞더라…통합 대통령될 것" 강한 자신감".
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Moon Jae-in.
National Assembly of the Republic of Korea
Preceded by
Chang Je-won
 Member of the National Assembly
from Sasang District
2012–2016 		Succeeded by
Chang Je-won
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Democratic Party
2015–2016 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by President of South Korea
2017–present 		Incumbent

Template:Leaders of Korea

Template:Trilateral meeting leaders Template:Leaders of the Next Eleven Economies

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