Kim Woong (Korean김웅, born 5 May 1970) is a South Korean prosecutor and politician. A member of the conservative People Power Party (PPP), he is the incumbent Member of the National Assembly for Songpa 1st constituency since 2020.

Kim Woong
김웅
Kim Woong
Member of the National Assembly
Assumed office
30 May 2020
Preceded byPark In-sook
ConstituencySongpa 1st
Personal details
Born (1970-05-05) 5 May 1970 (age 54)
Suncheon, South Jeolla, South Korea
Political partyPeople Power
Other political
affiliations
NCP (2020)
UFP (2020)
Alma materSeoul National University
OccupationProsecutor, politician
Signature

He joined politics as a member of the New Conservative Party (NCP), one of the predecessors to the PPP. Prior to entering politics, he was a vocal critic against the Moon Jae-in-led Democratic government's prosecution politics.

Career

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After qualifying for the bar in 1997, Kim started his career at Incheon District Prosecutor's Office in 2000.[1]

He was appointed the Head of Future Planning and Criminal Policy at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office by the former Prosecutor General Moon Moo-il in July 2018.[2] When the Moon Jae-in-led Democratic government was considering an adjustment of investigation power between the police and the prosecution — removing the jurisdiction over investigation from the prosecution while providing a right to terminate an investigation to the police, Moon Moo-il harshly criticised it as "undemocratic".[2] Kim, who advocated Moon Moo-il's opinion, appeared on various media.[2] After Moon Moo-il was replaced by Yoon Seok-youl, Kim was shunted off to a professor at the Institute of Justice.[2][3] Not only him, but also some other critics.[3]

On 13 January 2020, the National Assembly voted in favour of the amendment of the Criminal Procedure Act, and the Public Prosecutor's Office Act; the votes were boycotted by the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP).[4] Kim condemned the decision and submitted his resignation letter the following day.[5][6] He urged the other prosecutors to "disobey those feudal orders, we are democratic citizens."[5][6]

Political career

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On 4 February 2020, Kim joined the New Conservative Party (NCP), a day after his resignation was accepted.[1][7][8] He was the first person brought into the party prior to the 2020 election.[1][8] The day, he said, "I'm good at cracking crooks. I will crack the crook cartel at the zenith of this Republic of Crooks."[1][8] He also mentioned that he is willing to cooperate with the LKP.[8]

The party was soon merged into the United Future Party (UFP).[9] Kim requested the party that he wanted to contest for Songpa 1st constituency, rather than as a proportional representation.[10] He was subsequently confirmed as the UFP candidate for the constituency,[11] after the then incumbent Park In-sook decided to not seek for re-election.[12] In the election, Kim successfully defeated the Democratic candidate Cho Jai-hee, although his party suffered a crushing defeat.[13] Among the 10 Suncheon-born MPs, Kim is the sole MP from the opposition, whereas 9 others are from the government.[14]

Following the outright victory of the People Power Party (PPP) in the 2021 by-elections, an opinion poll has shown that Kim is the 2nd most (11.3%) favourable candidate for the party presidency, next to Joo Ho-young (16.6%), prior to the upcoming party leadership election.[15][16] Being a first-term MP, the outcome was described as "unexpected".[15] Several sources have suggested possibilities he will form an alliance with Kim Chong-in and Lee Jun-seok.[17] On 13 May, Kim officially made an announcement to run for the party leadership election.[18][19] However, he was eliminated on 28 May.[20][21][22]

Personal life

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Kim was born in Suncheon, South Jeolla in 1970.[1] He attended Suncheon High School, and then studied politics at Seoul National University.[1][7] He has an acquaintance with the former interim President of the Democratic Party Kim Tae-nyeon, who is a senior graduated from same high school.[23][24]

He is the author of Diary of a Prosecutor, which was remade as a drama aired on JTBC.[1][7][2][3]

He was exempted from the national service for undergoing a lobectomy.[25][26]

He is a Roman Catholic.[27]

Election results

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General elections

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Year Constituency Political party Votes (%) Remarks
2020 Songpa 1st UFP 58,318 (51.20%) Won

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g 김웅 前 부장검사, 새보수당 입당. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e '수사권 조정안' 반대했던 김웅도 좌천성 인사. 2 August 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  3. ^ a b c 윤석열 사단 요직 장악…현 정권 수사 검사들 한직·지방행. 1 August 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  4. ^ 검·경 수사권 조정안, 국회 본회의 '통과'. 13 January 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  5. ^ a b 김웅 차장검사 "수사권 조정은 거대한 사기극" 공개반발 사표. 15 January 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  6. ^ a b "우리는 이름으로 남는다"는 김웅 사표에… 검찰, 결국 폭발. 14 January 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  7. ^ a b c 새보수당 가는 '검사내전' 김웅 검사는 누구?. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d 새보수로 간 김웅 "사기 카르텔 때려잡겠다". 5 February 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  9. ^ 미래통합당 대표에 황교안…민주당 "돌고 돌아 새누리당". 17 February 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  10. ^ '검사 내전' 김웅, 송파갑 공천 신청…"비례보다는 지역구". 19 February 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  11. ^ 미래통합당, 송파갑 김웅·강서을 김태우 공천. 23 February 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  12. ^ 자유한국당 박인숙 의원 불출마… 연잇는 수도권 불출마. 16 February 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  13. ^ 역전승 김웅 "사전투표 4300표 뒤져 맘 고생…오만한 野, 심판 안 먹혀". 16 April 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  14. ^ 소병철·김웅 등 순천 출신 10명 국회 입성…역대 최다. 17 April 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  15. ^ a b 초선 김웅, 국민의힘 당대표 여론조사 '깜짝 2위'. 21 April 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  16. ^ 김웅, 국민의힘 당대표 적합도 2위…野 '초선 바람' 불까. 20 April 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  17. ^ 김종인·김웅·이준석 '삼각동맹' 국민의힘 당대표 선거 돌풍 될까. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  18. ^ 김웅, 국민의힘 대표 출마 선언…"계파와 거래, 절대 안 할 것"(종합). 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  19. ^ 국민의힘 김웅 당 대표 출마 선언 "불가역적 변화 일으킬 것". 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  20. ^ 이준석 1위로 '본선행'…나경원·주호영·홍문표·조경태 5자 대결. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  21. ^ 이준석, 1위로 국민의힘 당대표 본경선 진출. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  22. ^ 나경원·이준석·조경태·주호영·홍문표, 국민의힘 당대표 본선 진출. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  23. ^ [만났습니다]김웅 "보수통합 성공, 국민 요구에 정치가 굴복한 것". 17 February 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  24. ^ [뉴스1번지] 김웅 당선인에게 듣는 슬기로운 국회생활. 7 May 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  25. ^ "당직사병이 뭔지는 아세요".. 군면제 김웅 저격한 현근택. 14 September 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  26. ^ 현근택 "군면제 김웅, 뭔 염치로 秋아들을"→김웅 "그래 나 못났다…하지만". 14 September 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  27. ^ 가톨릭(천주교) 신자 제 21대 국회의원 당선자 명단. 25 April 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
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