Moon Jae-in

President of South Korea

January 24, 1953 Geoje, South Gyeongsang, South Korea

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Incumbent

19th president of South Korea "President Moon" redirects here. For the The Legend of Korra character, see President Zhu Li Moon. In this Korean name, the family name is Moon. The baptismal name is Timothy. Moon Jae-in문재인 Official portrait, 201812th President of South KoreaIncumbentAssumed office May 10, 2017Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn Yoo Il-ho (acting) Lee Nak-yeon Chung Sye-kyun Hong Nam-ki (acting) Kim Boo-kyumPreceded by Park Geun-hye Hwang Kyo-ahn (acting)Leader of the Democratic PartyIn office February 9, 2015 – January 27, 2016Preceded by Moon Hee-sang (interim)Succeeded by Kim Chong-in (interim)Member of the National AssemblyIn office May 30, 2012 – May 29, 2016Preceded by Chang Je-wonSucceeded by Chang Je-wonConstituencySasang (Busan)Chief of Staff to the PresidentIn office March 12, 2007 – February 24, 2008PresidentRoh Moo-hyunPreceded by Lee Byung-wanSucceeded by Yu Woo-ik Personal detailsBorn (1953-01-24 ) January 24, 1953 (age 68) Geoje, South Gyeongsang, South KoreaPolitical partyDemocraticSpouse(s)Kim Jung-sook ​(m. 1981)​Children2MotherKang Han-okFatherMoon Yong-hyungResidenceBlue HouseEducationKyung Hee University (LLB)OccupationPoliticianProfessionLawyerReligionCatholicism (Christian Name: Timothy)SignatureWebsiteOfficial website Military serviceAllegiance  South KoreaBranch/service  Republic of Korea ArmyYears of service1975–1978Rank Sergeant (Korean: Byeongjang )UnitArmy Special Warfare CommandBattles/warsOperation Paul Bunyan (Supporting member in the rear)Korean nameHangul문재인 Hanja文在寅 Revised RomanizationMun JaeinMcCune–ReischauerMun ChaeinIPAmundʑɛin or mun t͡ɕɛin Moon Jae-in (Korean: 문재인 ; Hanja: 文在寅 ; Korean pronunciation:  ; born January 24, 1953) is a South Korean politician and lawyer who is the current president of South Korea from 2017. He previously served as senior secretary for civil affairs as well as chief of staff to Roh Moo-hyun, member of the 19th National Assembly, and leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. Born to North Korean refugees, Moon was raised in poverty in the southern port city of Busan. He excelled in school and studied law at Kyung Hee University. He became a lawyer and later involved in human rights activism with Roh Moo-hyun. He was imprisoned for organizing a protest against the Yushin Constitution. As a result of his work in human rights law, Moon was chosen to be the campaign manager for his longtime mentor Roh Moo-hyun in his successful 2002 presidential bid. He served in Roh's administration in various official capacities. In 2012, Moon was a candidate for the Democratic United Party in the 2012 presidential election, in which he lost narrowly to Park Geun-hye; Park was aided in this election by domestic intelligence services. Moon was elected president in 2017 as the Democratic Party's candidate following the impeachment and removal of Park Geun-hye. As president, Moon has achieved international attention for his meetings with North Korean chairman Kim Jong-un at inter-Korean summits in April, May, and September 2018, making him the third South Korean president to meet their North Korean counterpart. On June 30, 2019, he met with both Kim and the president of the United States, Donald Trump, at the Korean Demilitarized Zone. Moon favors a peaceful reunification with North Korea. On economic policy, he favors reform of chaebols (conglomerates), has raised the minimum wage by more than 16 percent, and lowered the maximum workweek from 68 to 52 hours. During Moon's response to the COVID-19 pandemic he has received praise domestically and internationally and helped his party win a historic victory in the 2020 legislative election.