Candidate for Minister of Environment Kim Sung-hwan /Courtesy of Yonhap News Agency

President Lee Jae-myung nominated Kim Sung-hwan, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (60), as the candidate for Minister of the Environment on the 23rd.

Candidate Kim served as the co-head of the Democratic Party of Korea's election strategy committee in the 21st presidential election. He is known to have designed the president's climate and energy policy. Candidate Kim was also appointed to the party's policy committee chairperson position by then-party leader Lee Jae-myung in 2022.

Kang Hoon, the president's secretary, noted that "(Minister candidate Kim) has actively engaged in future environmental issues, including activities in the National Assembly's Special Committee on Climate Crisis," adding that he will "understand the president's concern that 'the climate crisis is a survival crisis for all' and respond appropriately."

Born in 1965, candidate Kim graduated from Yonsei University's law school and entered politics in 1995 as a member of the Nowon District Council. He subsequently served as a member of the Seoul City Council and the head of the Nowon District.

He entered central politics by securing a candidacy in the 20th National Assembly elections. He was re-elected three times consecutively from the 20th to the 22nd National Assembly. During his tenure, he served under former party leader Lee Hae-chan as secretary, as Commissioner of the Democratic Party of Korea's future transition K-New Deal Committee green new deal division, the chief deputy floor leader, and chairperson of the policy committee.

In the National Assembly, he participated in the Trade, Industry Energy, SMEs, and Startups Committee and the Special Committee on Climate Crisis, proposing environmentally friendly legislation such as the three renewable energy laws (the renewable energy separation law, green hydrogen promotion law, and the electric vehicle bi-directional charging obligation law).

▲Yeosu, Jeonnam ▲Graduated from Hansung High School ▲Graduated from Yonsei University Law School ▲Master's in public administration from Yonsei University's graduate school ▲Policy coordination secretary of President Roh Moo-hyun's office ▲Head of Seoul Nowon District (elected 5th and 6th terms) ▲Member of the National Assembly (Seoul Nowon) for the 20th, 21st, and 22nd terms ▲Secretary to the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea ▲Chief deputy floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea ▲Chairperson of the Democratic Party of Korea's policy committee