Kim Young-joo (politician)

Kim Young-joo
김영주
Kim in 2022
Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly
In office 4 July 2022 – 5 May 2024 Serving with Chung Jin-suk (2022) Chung Woo-taik (2022-24)
Preceded by	Kim Sang-hee
Minister of Employment and Labor
In office 14 August 2017 – 21 September 2018
President	Moon Jae-in
Prime Minister	Lee Nak-yeon
Succeeded by	Lee Jae-gap
Member of the National Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office 30 May 2012
Constituency	Yeongdeungpo A (Seoul)
In office 30 May 2004 – 29 May 2008
Constituency	Proportional representation
Personal details
Born	(1955-07-27) 27 July 1955 (age 69) Seoul, South Korea
Political party	People Power (2024–present)
Other political affiliations	Democratic (2015–2024)
Alma mater	Korea National Open University Sogang University

Kim Young-joo (Korean: 김영주; Hanja: 金榮珠; born 27 July 1955) is a South Korean politician and former basketball player previously served as President Moon Jae-in's first Minister of Employment and Labor from 2017 to 2018. She is the first woman to lead the Labour Ministry since its foundation in 1981 and its preceding agency in 1948.^[1]

She was a basketball player for Seoul Trust Bank (now absorbed into Hana Bank).^[1] She then worked at the Bank where she reportedly faced gender discrimination which led her to join its trade union. She later joined its leadership board and eventually became the deputy chair of the Korea Financial Industry Union and the first woman to assume this post.^[2]

In 1999 she first entered politics when she was recruited by Kim Dae-jung.^[3] She has consistently took senior roles in her party and its succeeding parties such as its secretary-general and one of elected members of its Supreme Council.^[4]