Kang Gi-jung (; born December 3, 1964) is a South Korean politician who served as the mayor of Gwangju from 2022 to 2026. A member of the Democratic Party of Korea, he previously served as a three-term member of the National Assembly and as a senior presidential aide.
Early life and education Kang Gi-jung was born in Goheung, South Jeolla Province on December 3, 1964. He attended Chonnam National University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. He later obtained a Master's degree in Public Administration from the same institution.
Election results General elections Year Elections Constituency Political party Votes (%) Results 2000 16th National Assembly General Election Buk A (Gwangju) Independent 15,606 (19.91%) Defeated 2002 2002 By-election Buk A (Gwangju) Independent 6,047 (18.13%) Defeated 2004 17th National Assembly General Election Buk A (Gwangju) Uri 51,258 (59.82%) Won 2008 18th National Assembly General Election Buk A (Gwangju) UDP 36,656 (63.28%) Won 2012 19th National Assembly General Election Buk A (Gwangju) DUP 37,718 (57.72%) Won
Local elections Mayor of Gwangju Year Elections Constituency Political party Votes (%) Remarks 2022 8th Iocal Election Gwangju(Mayoral Elections) Democratic 334,699 (74.91%) Won
Political career Jung entered national politics in 2004 and served as a three-term member of the National Assembly (17th, 18th, and 19th), representing the Buk District of Gwangju. During his tenure, he held roles including the Executive Secretary of the Health and Welfare Committee and the Chairman of the National Assembly's Special Committee on Ethics.
In January 2019, President Moon Jae-in appointed Jung as the Senior Secretary for Political Affairs. In this role, he was tasked with facilitating communication between the executive branch and the legislature, coordinating major national policies and responding to parliamentary issues.
Mayor of Gwangju Jung was elected as the Mayor of Gwangju in the June 2022 local elections. Since taking office on July 1, 2022, he has focused on transforming Gwangju into a "City of Opportunity," prioritizing industrial growth in sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI) and future mobility.
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