Kim Min-seok (politician)

Kim Min-seok (Korean: 김민석, born 29 May 1964) is a South Korean politician, activist and educator who has served as the prime minister of South Korea since 2025. A member of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), he has represented Yeongdeungpo District B in the National Assembly from 1996 to 2002 and since 2020.

Born in Seoul, Kim has degrees from Seoul National University, Harvard University, Tsinghua University, and Rutgers University. He was detained for occupying the American Culture Centre in Seoul, but was pardoned by President Roh Tae-woo. Kim was elected to the National Assembly in the 1996 election, and was regarded as one of rising stars of the Democratic Party during that period. However, his loss in the Seoul mayoral election in 2002 to Lee Myung-bak contributed to a decline in his popularity. Kim's career suffered further following corruption convictions in 2002 and 2010, which contributed to additional losses in the 2004, 2008, and 2016 South Korean legislative elections.

Kim was able to make a political comeback when he was once again elected as the MP for the Yeongdeungpo District 2nd constituency in the 2020 election, marking a return to the National Assembly after 18 years. A close ally of President Lee Jae Myung, he was nominated as prime minister in June 2025 and confirmed the following month despite a boycott from the opposition People Power Party.