Kwon Oh-eul

Kwon Oh-eul
Kwon in 2025
Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs
Assumed office
July 2025
PresidentLee Jae Myung
Secretary General of the National Assembly
In office
June 2010 – December 2011
Chairman of the Agriculture, Forestry, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Committee
In office
2006–2008
Member of the National Assembly
In office
May 1996 – May 2008
Member of the North Gyeongsang Provincial Council
In office
July 1991 – June 1995
Personal details
Born (1957-03-17) March 17, 1957
PartyDemocratic Party of Korea (2025)
Other political
affiliations
Korea University
Awards
Blue Stripes Order of Service Merit

Kwon Oh-eul (Korean권오을; born March 17, 1957) is a South Korean politician. He is the Minister of Patriots and Veteran Affairs. Kwon was the Secretary General of the National Assembly, a member of the North Gyeongsang Provincial Council, and a member of the National Assembly. In the National Assembly, he was the chairman of the Agriculture, Forestry, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Committee.

Biography

Kwon was born on March 17, 1957, in Andong. He graduated from Korea University and obtained a master's degree for Korea University Graduate School.[1]

Kwon was a member of the North Gyeongsang Provincial Council from July 1991 to June 1995. Kwon was a member of the National Assembly from May 1996 to May 2008. Kwon was the chairman of the Agriculture, Forestry, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Committee from 2006 to 2008. Kwon was the Secretary General of the National Assembly from June 2010 to December 2011.[1] Before the election, Kwon joined the Democratic Party of Korea before the 2025 presidential election.[2][3] Kwon has stated has he intends to push centrist and conservative beliefs in the Democratic Party of Korea.[2]

He was first elected to the National Assembly as a member of the United Democratic Party. Before the 1997 election, he joined the Grand National Party because the United Democratic Party was merged into the New Korea Party.[1] After not receiving a nomination for the National Assembly in 2012 and 2015, he joined the Bareun Party.[4]

He was a visiting professor at Catholic University of Daegu, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, and Shinhan University. Kwon received the Blue Stripes Order of Service Merit in November 2011.[1] On June 23, 2025, Kwon has nominated to be the Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and assumed office in July 2025.[3][1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Kwon Oh-eul". Korea Who. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  2. ^ a b Yonhap (2025-06-25). "Veterans minister nominee vows to bridge gap between liberals, conservatives". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2026-05-27.
  3. ^ a b Joo-young, Hwang (2025-06-23). "Kwon Oh-eul: Ex-conservative lawmaker to lead Veterans Ministry". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2026-05-27.
  4. ^ Park, Boram (June 23, 2025). "(profile) 3-term lawmaker from conservative bloc named as veterans minister". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved May 27, 2026.