Seoul: Kang Yu-jung, a former film and literary critic, has been appointed as the first spokesperson for President Lee Jae-myung. This marks a significant transition for Kang, who is relatively new to the political arena.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kang’s career began in 2003 when she gained recognition by winning the film criticism category of the Chosun Ilbo’s literary contest for new writers. She further established her literary credentials by winning in the literary criticism category in contests hosted by the Dong-A Ilbo and the Kyunghyang Shinmun. Her academic career included roles as a research professor at Korea University and as a professor at Kangnam University, alongside publishing books on film and writing newspaper columns as a film critic.

Kang made her entry into politics during the 2024 general elections, where she successfully secured a seat as a proportional representative for the Democratic Party (DP). She also took on the role of the DP’s floor spokesperson under the leadership of floor leader Rep. Park Chan-dae. Born in Seoul in 1975, Kang is an alumna of Korea University, where she majored in Korean language education.