Seoul: Kim Yun-duk has been appointed as the new land minister by President Lee Jae Myung, marking a significant decision in the current administration. Kim, a three-term lawmaker from the ruling Democratic Party (DP), brings a wealth of experience in the realm of land and infrastructure policies, having served extensively on the parliament's land, infrastructure, and transport committee.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim Yun-duk represents a constituency in Buan, North Jeolla Province, and his political journey began with student and civic activism. His career progressed as he was elected to the North Jeolla Provincial Assembly, eventually making his way to the National Assembly in 2012. Kim has twice served on the parliament's land committee, where he has played a pivotal role in shaping the nation's land policies.
In the current legislative session, Kim introduced his first proposal, which was a revision to the Special Act on Metropolitan Area Transportation Management. This bill aims to broaden the definition of metropolitan municipalities to include special self-governing provinces, reflecting his commitment to enhancing transportation management.
Kim's political career also includes a notable moment during a 2021 parliamentary audit of the Gyeonggi provincial government. At that time, President Lee was serving as governor, and Kim publicly defended him against the then ruling People Power Party's criticisms related to the Daejang-dong development scandal.