Kim Doo-kwan (; born 10 April 1959) is a South Korean politician and former civil servant who served as the governor of South Gyeongsang Province from 2010 to 2012. A member of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), he was elected governor in the 2010 local elections as an independent after two previous unsuccessful attempts. Kim served as the minister for home affairs under the administration of Roh Moo-hyun, and at one point was seen as a potential contender for the DUP nomination in the 2012 presidential election.
Early life and education
Kim Doo-kwan was born in a village in Namhae on 10 April 1959. He studied at the Department of Political Diplomacy of Dong-A University, graduating in 1987.김두관 경남도지사 "공무원노조는 중요한 정책파트너" (in Korean). MK News, 8 June 2010. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
Political career
After serving as Secretary-General of the Namhae farmers' association from 1987, Kim was prefect of Namhae County in the 1990s. He failed in a bid to become governor of South Gyeongsang in 2002. In 2003, he was chosen as Minister for Government Administration and Home Affairs by Roh Moo-hyun, but on 3 September of that year the National Assembly voted to dismiss him. He unsuccessfully contested Namhae in the 2004 National Assembly elections for the Uri Party, winning 16.9% of the vote.준합개표현황 (in Korean). KBS, retrieved 20 April 2012. He subsequently lost a second attempt to become governor in 2006.
Governorship
In the 2010 local elections, Kim won an upset victory in the South Gyeongsang gubernatorial election as an independent candidate, and took office as governor on 1 July 2010. Despite originally promising to maintain his independence, in February 2011 he joined the Democratic United Party.Kim setting out on Dec. presidential run? . The Korea Herald, 19 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
Party politics
After the party's defeat in the 2012 parliamentary elections, Kim emerged as an alternative candidate for the DUP nomination for that year's presidential election,Presidential hopefuls making moves. The Korea Times, 19 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012. though he had been considered as a potential frontrunner beforehand.Dingankar, M. An Overview of South Korean politics. Institute for Defense Studies & Analyses, 1 July 2010. Retrieved 20 April 2012. He has been termed the "little Roh Moo-hyun" on account of his unprivileged background and his principles.
Kim declared his candidacy for the 2025 South Korean presidential election. However, he withdrew from the campaign on 18 April, after he had criticized the Democratic Party's rules in conducting its primaries as being biased in favor of another candidate.
Election results General elections Year Elections Constituency Political party Votes (%) Results 1988 13th National Assembly General Election Namhae-Hadong (South Gyeongsang) Popular's 9,783 (3.22%) Defeated 2004 17th National Assembly General Election Namhae-Hadong (South Gyeongsang) Uri 26,747 (41.96%) Defeated 2008 18th National Assembly General Election Namhae-Hadong (South Gyeongsang) Independent 24,966 (40.61%) Defeated 2014 2014 By-election Gimpo (Gyeonggi) NPAD 38,858 (43.10%) Defeated 2016 20th National Assembly General Election Gimpo A (Gyeonggi) Democratic 49,758 (59.30%) Won 2020 21st National Assembly General Election Yangsan B (South Gyeongsang) Democratic 44,218 (48.94%) Won 2024 22nd National Assembly General Election Yangsan B (South Gyeongsang) Democratic 48,600 (48.94%) Defeated
Local Elections Governor of South Gyeongsang Year Elections Constituency Political party Votes (%) Results 2002 3rd Iocal Election South Gyeongsang(Governoral Elections) MDP 315,008 (16.88%) Defeated 2006 4th Iocal Election South Gyeongsang(Governoral Elections) Uri 343,137 (25.41%) Defeated 2010 5th Iocal Election South Gyeongsang(Governoral Elections) Independent 807,698 (53.54%) Won
Mayor of Namhae Year Elections Constituency Political party Votes (%) Results 1995 1st Iocal Election Mayor of Namhae Independent 21,605 (55.61%) Won 1998 2nd Iocal Election Mayor of Namhae Independent 18,612 (53.73%) Won
References