Yoon Sang-hyun (politician)

Yoon Sang-hyun
윤상현
Yoon in 2023
Member of the National Assembly
Assumed office
30 May 2008
Preceded byAhn Young-geun
ConstituencyDong-guMichuhol-gu B (2020–present)
Nam-gu (2008–2016)
Senior Secretary to the President for Political Affairs
In office
2 February 2015 – 10 October 2015
PresidentPark Geun-hye
Personal details
Born (1962-12-01) 1 December 1962
Spouse(s)
Jeon Hyo-sun
(m. 1985; div. 2005)

Shin Kyung-ah
(m. 2010)
Children3
Alma materSeoul National University (BA)
Georgetown University (MA)
George Washington University (PhD)
OccupationPolitician
Websiteblog.naver.com/shoon1962
Korean name
Hangul
윤상현
Hanja
尹相鉉
RRYun Sanghyeon
MRYun Sanghyŏn

Yoon Sang-hyun (Korean윤상현; born 1 December 1962) is a South Korean politician. He has served as a member of the National Assembly of South Korea for the 18th through 22nd terms (2008–present), representing districts in Incheon.[1][2] He is currently the representative for Incheon's Dong-guMichuhol-gu B. A five-term lawmaker, Yoon previously served as a special advisor on political affairs in the Presidential Secretariat in 2015. He was formerly the son-in-law of former President Chun Doo-hwan (married to Chun's daughter from 1985 to 2005) and is currently the nephew-in-law of Shin Kyuk-ho, founder of Lotte Corporation.[3][4]

Academic career

Yoon was a visiting researcher at the Korea Institute at Harvard University in 1995.[5] He served as a visiting assistant professor at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University.[6]

He was an adjunct professor at Seoul National University from 1998 to 2002.[7]

Political career

Yoon entered politics in 2000 with the Grand National Party. He unsuccessfully ran for the National Assembly in 2004. He was elected in 2008 and re-elected in 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024.[1]

He served as spokesperson for the Grand National Party (2008–2009), deputy floor leader (2013–2014) and secretary general (2014) of the Saenuri Party.[7] From February to October 2015, he was Senior Secretary to the President for Political Affairs under Park Geun-hye.[7] He chaired the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee from 2018 to 2020.[7]

As of 2025, Yoon serves on the Environment and Labor Committee[8] and the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee.[9] He chairs the People Power Party's Protestant association.[10]

During the 2024 South Korean martial law crisis, Yoon opposed the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, calling the martial law declaration a "high-level political act".[9]

Personal life

Yoon married Jeon Hyo-sun, daughter of former president Chun Doo-hwan, in 1985. They had two daughters and divorced in 2005.[3]

In 2010, Yoon married Shin Kyung-ah, niece of Lotte Group founder Shin Kyuk-ho. They have one daughter.[4]

Yoon resides in Michuhol District, Incheon. He is a Protestant.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b "Yoon Sang-hyun, a member of the People's Power (Dong, Michuhol, Incheon)". Maeil Business Newspaper. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  2. ^ "Opposition parties expand Assembly dominance". The Korea Herald. 11 April 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Who are presidents' in-laws?". The Korea Times. 24 July 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Despite drunk gaffes, Yoon gets tacit support". Korea JoongAng Daily. 17 March 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  5. ^ "Sanghyun Yoon". Korea Institute, Harvard University. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  6. ^ "INTERVIEW". JAPAN Forward. 5 February 2025. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d "Yoon, Sang Hyun bio". Institute for Corean-American Studies. 3 September 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  8. ^ "Ruling, Opposition Clash Over Espionage Witnesses in Labor Audit". The Chosun Ilbo. 15 October 2025. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  9. ^ a b "How moderate ruling party lawmaker joined vanguard of pro-Yoon faction". The Korea Herald. 20 January 2025. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  10. ^ a b "Korean Christian lawmakers from ruling and opposition parties unite in prayer". Christian Daily. 12 January 2025. Retrieved 26 November 2025.