KOREA WHO

Chung Dong-young is the Minister of Unification.

He is focusing his efforts on building a successful inter-Korean relationship under the Lee Jae-myung administration.

He is also working to normalize the Ministry of Unification for peace on the Korean Peninsula and the restoration of inter-Korean relations, as well as to restore the severed communication channels with North Korea.

He was born on July 27, 1953, in Sunchang, North Jeolla Province.

He graduated from Jeonju High School and the Department of Korean History at Seoul National University. He received a master’s degree in Journalism and Information Studies from Cardiff University, University of Wales in the United Kingdom.

He joined Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and worked as a political reporter.

He entered politics at the recommendation of former President Kim Dae-jung and served as a lawmaker for the Millennium Democratic Party and the Uri Party. He served as Minister of Unification during the Roh Moo-hyun administration. After running for president as the candidate of the United New Democratic Party and losing the election, he stepped away from politics in his hometown before returning as a lawmaker with the People’s Party.

After leaving the People’s Party, he moved to the Party for Democracy and Peace. After losing in the 2020 general election for the 21st National Assembly, he stepped back from politics, then rejoined the Democratic Party of Korea in 2022. After rejoining, he ran in the 2024 general election for the 22nd National Assembly in Jeonju-si Byeong District and won, succeeding in securing a fifth term.

He later returned to the cabinet for the first time in 20 years when he was appointed as the first Minister of Unification in the Lee Jae-myung administration in 2025.

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