Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), which celebrates its 625th anniversary in 2023, continues to create leaders in society to this day. One of them is Park Yong-jin, a National Assembly member, who graduated from SKKU in 1997 with a major in Sociology. He dove into the world of politics after graduation and is currently working as a two-time elect of the National Assembly. The Sungkyun Times (SKT) introduces a politician who is striving to change society, one small step at a time.
Who Is Park Yong-jin?
Q1. Please introduce yourself.
Hello, my name is Park Yong-jin, and I am currently a member of the National Assembly for the Democratic Party. I was accepted to SKKU in 1990 and majored in Sociology. Also, in 1994, I was student president.
Q2. What was a difficult experience you had while serving as student president at SKKU?
Being in a romantic relationship as a student president took work. Back in the 1990s, the police used to investigate the acquaintances of pro-democracy activists to track them. Thus, there was an unspoken rule that activists would pretend not to know each other to avoid any unwanted attention. I had to be extra careful in my dating life and could not greet my girlfriend in public.
Q2-1. Did your time as student president help you during your political career?
During my time as student president, I had to educate and persuade my peers about the regime’s tyranny. I also had several experiences of finding the middle ground with fellow students who had different opinions from mine. This is the same as the political process to which I currently devote my life. In this aspect, I believe that my time serving as the student president was an excellent foundation for my political career.
Q3. How did you start your career in politics?
At first, I participated in political campaigns as an extension of pro-democracy activism. My first campaign started in the winter of my sophomore year for the 1992 general election. Then in November of that year, I took part in a presidential election. After completing my military service and imprisonment, I also campaigned for the 1997 presidential election. In 2000, I proudly became one of the 13 founding members of the Korean Democratic Labor Party. Then in April 2000, I ran as a candidate in the general election for the first time.
To Be a Statesman
Q4. What were some of the steps you took to become a member of the National Assembly?
I waited 16 years to win my first election. During those times, I lost in elections and even served several years in prison. The imprisonment stopped me from participating in the 2004 election even after I came third in 2000. On top of that, my party was split into two in 2008, and I failed to be nominated as a candidate four years later. However, after years of endurance, I was finally elected as a member of the National Assembly in 2016. I could survive all those hardships because I clearly knew what I wanted to do. To me, the most important values are economic democracy and fair markets, and actualizing them has motivated me along the way.
Q5. Do you have any vision or strengths unique to you?
To metaphorize, I am a politician who plays using the whole field. Players like Son Heung-min play on both the football field’s left and right sides and race toward the goal. Likewise, to reach the final destination of politics, which is the happiness of citizens, I should not mind using both sides of the playing field. Regardless of my roots in the liberal side, I believe that my political spectrum should not be a factor when discussing social security and economic growth. This mindset and attitude is my biggest strength.
Q6. It is known that you were imprisoned twice – once during your time at SKKU and once after graduation. How did that affect you?
Ho Chi Minh once said, “Prison is a school for revolutionaries.” During my three-year stay in solitary confinement, I had nothing to do but read, think, and write. Consequently, I read passionately in prison and discovered the joy of learning. The experience has left me reading books until now. Furthermore, the writing skills I acquired in jail helped me immensely throughout my five years as the party spokesperson. Since I was only allowed to write one page daily, I had to organize my thoughts before writing.
Q7. You studied at the SKKU Graduate School of Governance while working as a politician. Was there any particular motive that led you to study?
I simply wanted to learn. That was my biggest reason. The years in prison made me realize that I needed a teacher. Simply reading random books in prison left me directionless. For example, reading about Ho Chi Minh got me interested in the history of Vietnam and motivated me to study the colonial policies of France on a whim. Furthermore, I wanted to bring some changes to my life, after finishing the busy times of working as the party spokesperson
Q8. As a politician, what worries you the most?
Partisanship is what I worry about the most. There were times when making rational decisions pushed me to the fringe. To illustrate, during the Cho Kuk crisis, I insisted that the Democratic Party should listen to the criticism of university students. However, I was severely attacked both by the party and the media. Even if an opinion differs from that of the majority, I think it should be respected. In my opinion, partisanship happens when a party cannot tolerate different opinions.
Q9. Did you face any difficulties during your career in politics?
The hardest part of working as a politician is that being honest and acting on my beliefs affect my reputation. I would be praised just for following the mainstream, but following my beliefs put the people around me, and myself, in pain. This also interfered with and forbade me from becoming the party leader. Being pushed away from the majority causes more difficulty in being nominated in the party, which is essential in becoming a presidential candidate.
Q10. What do you consider to be your crowning achievement as a politician?
I think I am most proud of my Kindergarten Reform Bill. It focused on preventing corruption at private kindergartens which receive public funding, by mandating them to get regular audits. It took me a year and four months to prepare for the legislation’s reform, but I am most proud because it made a positive impact.
Planning the Future of Park Yong-jin
Q11. What is the final goal of Park Yongjin as a politician?
Gradually, I want to bring bigger changes to the world. To fulfill my dream, I would need more authority and responsibility. Thus, my final goal is to become the president of Korea, as I announced back in 2011. This bid is still valid and in progress. My final goal is to persuade my party and be approved by the citizens to become the first SKKU alumnus who became president.
Q12. What is the ideal society you picture?
I picture a society where growth does not halt. A world where hope for the younger generation’s future never diminishes. We must not allow a society that makes people terribly worried about their future. Partisanship must cease, and society must also endeavor to overcome it. Attacks on others for their opinions must be prevented. To realize my vision, I believe justice and economic growth are essential for our society. Although it may be difficult, I will do my best to create a breakthrough.
Q13. Do you have any tips or advice for Kingos who want to become politicians?
You must start now and continue trying. Also, read and study a lot. Since Korean politics is opening up more to the younger generation, you should keep challenging yourself. By the way, if you dream a career in politics, you can always contact me. Just send me a resume or self-introduction by e-mail or text message. (Park Yongjin, Mobile: 010- 9989-5491, E-Mail: gangbuk24@gmail. com)
