From Developing Weapons in North Korea to Making Policies in South Korea: Dr. Park Chung Kwon’s Story

A defector candidate has become a hot topic after being elected in the 22nd National Assembly elections held on the 10th. The protagonist is Dr. Park Chung Kwon, the second proportional representative of the Future of Korea Party, a satellite party of the People’s Power. Dr. Park Chung Kwon has become the fourth defector to become a member of the National Assembly in the history of our national assembly elections.

Dr. Park Chung Kwon, born in Hamhung, South Hamgyong Province, boasts a unique background, having graduated from the Department of Chemical Materials Engineering at North Korea’s National Defense Comprehensive University. In fact, after graduating from the National Defense Comprehensive University, Dr. Park is an elite researcher who participated in the development of the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM).

The National Defense Comprehensive University in North Korea, where Dr. Park graduated, was established by Kim Il Sung in 1963 for the localization of weapons systems centered on intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The Defense Science Institute is located next to this university. It appears to have been established to develop talent for developing defense weapons, considering the many military factories in the vicinity. Weapon development and R&D are carried out together at this school, and it is presumed that Dr. Park participated in this research.

However, precisely what research Dr. Park Chung Kwon conducted and which part he was responsible for is unknown. He said, “I am still limited in discussing what I did in North Korea. I can only say that I have a deep understanding of North Korea’s weapons development strategy and capacity.”

Why did Dr. Park Chung-kwon come to Korea as a promising elite researcher? He began to have doubts about the North Korean system during his junior year in college and realized that it was completely strange by the time he graduated.

After graduation, he was placed in a military-related research institute, and it is presumed that the gap between what he knew and reality became too large to bear as he continued his research. It is known that Dr. Park defected 15 years ago in 2009.

After settling in Korea, he completed his master’s and doctoral studies at Seoul National University Graduate School in 2017 and earned a doctorate in engineering. He then participated in developing automobile materials as a senior researcher at Hyundai Steel’s research and development headquarters.

Looking at his career alone, he boasts a unique super-elite background that no other member of the National Assembly can follow. With the People Power Party recruiting him as a talent, Dr. Park was able to step into politics. Lee Cheol Gyu, the chairman of the People Power Party Talent Recruitment Committee, who recruited Dr. Park at the time, said, “He will play a big role in improving North Korean human rights and developing Korean engineering as a new model for North Korean defectors who have settled in South Korea.”

After Representative Tae Yong Ho was defeated in the 22nd National Assembly elections, Dr. Park Chung Kwon became the only incumbent lawmaker from North Korea.

His first political move is expected to be proposing amendments to restore the National Intelligence Service’s anti-communist investigation rights and solutions for the settlement and employment of defectors. In particular, he seems to actively promote his opinions on defense and security policy, using his experience of majoring in ICBM in North Korea.

As a defector, he seems to be sparing no support for defectors. Dr. Park Chung Kwon said, “Because the gap between South and North Korea is large, only those who overcome this can settle in Korea. The people of South Korea should be patient and understanding so that our defectors can actively assimilate into society.” He said, “They also need opportunities. Even if they can’t adapt to their first job, it can change when they go to their next job,” expressing his will to work for the support of defectors.

Dr. Park Chung Kwon also expressed his feelings about this election. He said, “I have come to this place in Korea with the help of many people. So, I would like to say that I will work hard to repay this grace to the people of South Korea. So that my sincere love for South Korea can reach the people, and I will do my best in legislative activities so that I can hear that taxes are not wasted. In addition, I would like to say that I will do my best to become a ruling party that can regain trust by taking the serious will shown by the people in this general election.”

He also said that he would do anything he could do to protect the free democratic system and advance science and technology, expressing a heavy sense of responsibility.

Due to the nature of proportional representation, expertise is essential, and in the case of Dr. Park Chung Kwon, support for North Korean defectors and the development of science and technology were selected as two key factors.

In response to a question from the press about whether he wants to focus more on North Korea or science, Dr. Park said, “I want to start with the Science and Technology Information Broadcasting and Communications Committee and the Industry, Trade, Resources, Small and Medium Venture Business Committee. As a defector, I plan to support defectors and North Korean policy throughout my legislative activities. I was a major in developing lethal weapons in North Korea. Still, it would be meaningful to work in the science field that improves humanity’s universal quality of life. It’s an era where science and technology change the world. I think North Korea will no longer be able to bear it if our science and technology develop further. North Korea is blocking communication with the outside world. The time will come when it cannot physically block it,” revealing his will to catch two rabbits.

In response to a question from the press about how he evaluates North Korea’s defense technology, he said, “It’s very weak.” He seems to have judged that there is a problem with quality control because his technological development has focused only on what appears in Korea, such as nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missiles.

While candidate Park Chung Kwon expressed his will for various policy activities, attention is focused on the actions of Park Chung Kwon, the only incumbent lawmaker from North Korea in the 22nd National Assembly elections.

Meanwhile, Tae Yong Ho, a well-known defector politician of the People’s Power, is known to have been defeated by Yun Kun Young, a member of the Democratic Party, who won 57,788 votes after running in the Guro-eul constituency in Seoul and obtaining 38,741 votes in this general election.

After the general election, Representative Tae Yong Ho showed such actions as visiting Representative Yun Kun Young and delivering a large bouquet to congratulate him, earning the title ‘true politician.’