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Moon Jae-in

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Moon Jae-in was the 12th president of South Korea.

Moon Jae-in's Portrait (2025) (cropped)
Moon Jae-in's Portrait (2025) (cropped)

He was born on January 24, 1953, in Geoje. His parents were refugees from North Korea. They fled the city of Hungnam during the Korean War. His family moved to Busan to start a new life. Life was very hard for them because they were poor. His mother worked to earn money by delivering briquettes. Moon worked very hard in school to succeed.

President Moon Jae-in Press Conference 03 (34440816851)
President Moon Jae-in Press Conference 03 (34440816851)

Moon went to Kyung Hee University to study law. While he was a student, he joined a protest. This protest was against the Yushin Constitution. Because of this, he was arrested and sent to prison. After he finished his military service, he studied for the bar exam. He stayed at the Daeheungsa Buddhist temple to focus. He passed the exam and became a lawyer. He used his skills to help people with human rights.

Vladimir Putin and Moon Jae-in (2017-09-06) 01
Vladimir Putin and Moon Jae-in (2017-09-06) 01

Moon worked closely with a man named Roh Moo-hyun. He helped manage Roh's successful presidential campaign in 2002. Later, Moon served in many important roles in the government. He worked as the Chief of Staff for President Roh. He also represented the Democratic Party of Korea. In 2012, he ran for a seat in the National Assembly. He won a seat for the Sasang District in Busan.

2018 inter-Korean summit 01
2018 inter-Korean summit 01

Moon became president in May 2017. This happened after the previous president, Park Geun-hye, was removed from office. As president, Moon wanted peace between North and South Korea. He followed a plan called the Sunshine Policy. He met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un three times in 2018. He even met Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump at the DMZ in 2019.

2018 inter-Korean summit square
2018 inter-Korean summit square

Moon made many changes to help people in South Korea. He raised the minimum wage by more than 16 percent. He also lowered the workweek from 68 hours to 52 hours. He wanted to make big companies, called chaebols, more fair. Many people praised him for how he handled the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Moon Jae-in - March 2021 (51051383112) (cropped)
President Moon Jae-in - March 2021 (51051383112) (cropped)

In May 2022, Moon left office. He handed power to the new president, Yoon Suk Yeol.

KOREA The 20th President Inauguration Ceremony 524 (52062128372)
KOREA The 20th President Inauguration Ceremony 524 (52062128372)
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🖼️ Images & Media (11)
File:President_Moon_Jae-in_Press_Conference_03_(34440816851).jpg
President_Moon_Jae-in_Press_Conference_03_...
File:Moon Jae-in Presidential Approval Rating.svg
Moon Jae-in Presidential Approval Rating.svg
File:Vladimir Putin and Moon Jae-in (2017-09-06) 01.jpg
Vladimir Putin and Moon Jae-in (2017-09-06) 01.jpg
File:President Moon Jae-in - March 2021 (51051383112) (cropped).jpg
President Moon Jae-in - March 2021...
File:P20210521AS-2069 (51224512406).jpg
P20210521AS-2069 (51224512406).jpg
File:2018 inter-Korean summit square.jpg
2018 inter-Korean summit square.jpg
File:2018 inter-Korean summit 01.jpg
2018 inter-Korean summit 01.jpg
File:KOREA_The_20th_President_Inauguration_Ceremony_524_(52062128372).jpg
KOREA_The_20th_President_Inauguration_Cere...
File:Moon Jae-in's Portrait (2025) (cropped).jpg
Moon Jae-in's Portrait (2025) (cropped).jpg
Man holds up sign demanding execution of...
File:Olympic rings without rims.svg
Olympic rings without rims.svg
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