President Lee Jae-myung on the 26th named Park Mi-kyung (63), chair of the Gwangju Federation for Environmental Movements and co-chair, as Chairperson of the presidential Committee of Light.
Cheong Wa Dae Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung described the new Chairperson Park that day as "a civic activist who has devoted 30 years to the development of civil society and democracy, serving as co-representative of the Civil Society Organizations' Solidarity Conference and national co-representative of the Korean Federation for Environmental Movements," and explained the background of the appointment by saying, "We judged Park to be the right person to honor the people who defended the Constitution and democracy through the 'revolution of light' against rebellion, and to spread the stature of K-democracy at home and abroad."
The Committee of Light is a presidential committee established in March this year to honor the public's dedication in standing up to armed soldiers during the Dec. 3 emergency martial law. Chief Spokesperson Kang said, "Based on Park's deep understanding of civic democracy and communication skills, we expect the Chairperson to further enhance the completeness of K-democracy safeguarded by the people and to support the popular sovereignty government."
Chairperson Park, a native of Gwangju, graduated from Gyeongshin Girls' High School in Gwangju and the department of Korean language and literature at Chosun University, completed a master's degree in environmental studies at Chosun University and a doctoral program in public administration. Park currently serves as chair and co-chair of the Gwangju Federation for Environmental Movements. Park has long worked as a civic and environmental activist, serving as co-representative of the Korean Federation for Environmental Movements, co-representative of the Civil Society Organizations' Solidarity Conference, Commissioner on the Prime Minister's Office-affiliated Civil Society Committee, and director of the incorporated association Green Road.