Kim Gi-hyeon (Korean김기현, born 21 February 1959) is a South Korean lawyer and politician who served as the Mayor of Ulsan from 2014 to 2018. He was the acting President of the conservative People Power Party (PPP) from 30 April to 11 June 2021.

Kim Gi-hyeon
김기현
Leader of the People Power Party
In office
8 March 2023 – 13 December 2023
Preceded byChung Jin-suk (acting)
Succeeded byYun Jae-ok (acting)
Han Dong-hoon (interim)
Interim
30 April 2021 – 11 June 2021
Preceded byJoo Ho-young (acting)
Succeeded byLee Jun-seok
Mayor of Ulsan
In office
1 July 2014 – 30 June 2018
Preceded byPark Maeng-woo
Succeeded bySong Cheol-ho
Member of the National Assembly for Ulsan South 2nd
Assumed office
30 May 2020
Preceded byPark Maeng-woo
In office
30 May 2004 – 15 May 2014
Preceded byChoi Byung-kook (as South)
Succeeded byPark Maeng-woo
Personal details
Born (1959-02-21) 21 February 1959 (age 65)
Sanha-ri, Gangdong-myeon, Ulju, South Gyeongsang, South Korea
Political partyPeople Power
Other political
affiliations
GNP (2003–2012)
Saenuri (2012–2017)
LKP (2017–2020)
UFP (2020)
SpouseLee Sun-ae
Children3
ParentKim Byung-geuk
Alma materSeoul National University
OccupationLawyer, politician
Signature

Career

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Kim Gi-hyeon was born in Sanha-ri, Gangdong-myeon, Ulju, South Gyeongsang (now Gangdong-dong, North District, Ulsan) in 1959.[1][2] He is the 4th of 6 children of Kim Byung-geuk, the former Member of the South Gyeongsang Legislative Assembly from 1960 to 1961.[2]

He attended to Busan East High School before studying law at Seoul National University.[3][4] After qualifying for the bar in 1983, he worked in various non-governmental organisations i.e. Director of YMCA in Ulsan.[3]

He was appointed the deputy spokesperson of the Grand National Party (GNP) in 2003.[3] In 2004, he ran for South District 2nd constituency and was elected.[3][4] He was re-elected in 2008 and 2012.[3][4] On 12 April 2014, he contested Saenuri preselection for Ulsan mayorship and defeated Kang Ghil-boo.[5] He resigned his parliamentary membership on 5 May in order to register his candidacy.[6] On 4 June, he received 65.42% and defeated the Justice candidate Jo Seung-soo.[7]

Following the election, Kim had showed his intention to run for the 2017 election,[8][9] comparing an example of Bill Clinton, the former Governor of Arkansas who was elected the President of the United States.[1] Following the political scandal in 2016, he was expected to leave his party,[9] but confirmed to remain.[10]

In 2018, Kim was again nominated the Ulsan Mayor candidate for the 2018 local elections.[11] Initially, he led on some polls[12] due to his high popularity. Nevertheless, he then came behind to the Democratic candidate Song Cheol-ho.[13] On 13 June, he finally lost to the Democratic candidate.[14]

On 29 January 2020, Kim launched his bid for the 2020 election.[15] He contested UFP preselection for South District 2nd constituency and defeated Park Maeng-woo.[16]

On 30 April 2021, Kim was elected the new parliamentary leader of the People Power Party (PPP), defeating Kim Tae-heum, Kweon Seong-dong and Yu Eui-dong.[17] He also served as the acting party President until Lee Jun-seok was elected the new president on 11 June. He resigned as the parliamentary leader on 3 January 2022,[18] but returned to the position 3 days later.[19] On 29 March, he made his resignation without coming back to the position, in order to refurbish the party leadership.[20]

Ideology

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Kim's political position is described as conservative within the context of South Korean politics.[1] While serving as an MP, he was a member of South Korean centrist groups within the Grand National Party (GNP).[1] He is pro-Lee Myung-bak.[21][1] He is critical of the welfare system.[22]

Personal life

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Kim is married to Lee Sun-ae and has a son and a daughter.[3]

Election results

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General elections

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Year Constituency Political party Votes (%) Remarks
2004 South 2nd GNP 29,347 (45.56%) Won
2008 South 2nd GNP 30,077 (62.00%) Won
2012 South 2nd Saenuri 38,054 (56.57%) Won
2020 South 2nd UFP 48,933 (58.4%) Won

Local elections

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Mayor of Ulsan

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Year Political party Votes (%) Remarks
2014 Saenuri 306,311 (65.42%) Won
2018 LKP 240,475 (40.07%) Defeated

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "아칸소 주지사도 대통령 했잖어"…울산 남자, 김기현의 꿈. 16 January 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  2. ^ a b 변호사·시민운동가 활동 "시민이 공천한 첫 의원". 19 July 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "[Who Is ?] 김기현 울산광역시장". 21 December 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  4. ^ a b c [광역단체장 당선인 프로필] 울산시장 김기현. 5 June 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  5. ^ 새누리당 울산시장 후보로 김기현 의원 선출. 12 April 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  6. ^ 김기현 의원직 사퇴..."따뜻한 울산시장 될 것". 5 May 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  7. ^ 울산 새누리당 김기현 후보 시장 당선. 5 June 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  8. ^ 김기현 울산시장 당선인 "대통령 꿈 진행 중". 8 June 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  9. ^ a b '빨라진 대선시계' 울산이 대선판도 바꾼다. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  10. ^ 김기현 시장, 새누리당 잔류 선언…"거듭나는 과정 지켜본 뒤". 3 January 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  11. ^ 한국당, 부산 서병수·인천 유정복·울산 김기현 등 공천 확정. 16 March 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  12. ^ 울산시장 적합도 여론조사 김기현 31% 송철호 15%. 2 January 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  13. ^ 울산시장 후보 지지도 송철호 1위…당선 가능성은 김기현 시장과 박빙. 18 April 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  14. ^ 한반도 평화 기대감 속 민주 '최상의 성적표'. 14 June 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  15. ^ 김기현, 울산 남구을 총선 출마 선언…"무너진 대한민국 다시 세우자". 29 January 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  16. ^ 울산 선거개입 의혹 관련 김기현, 현역 박맹우 꺾고 공천 확정. 17 March 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  17. ^ 국민의힘 새 원내대표에 4선 김기현…"목숨걸고 싸우겠다". 30 April 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  18. ^ 김기현 "원내대표·공동선대위원장 사퇴하겠다‥쇄신 앞장". 3 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  19. ^ 김기현 재신임 '李대표 문제해결' 총대. 7 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  20. ^ 김기현, 국민의힘 원내대표 조기 사퇴… 내달 8일 경선. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  21. ^ 새누리, 최경환 '친박 실세'와 친이 김기현 정책위의장 조합. 16 May 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  22. ^ "복지공약 남발은 허위사실 유포, 부정선거나 다름없다". 20 November 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2020.