Chun Jae-soo (; born 1971) is a South Korean politician who has served as the mayor of Busan since 2026. A member of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), he served as a member of the National Assembly from 2016 to 2025 and as the minister of oceans and fisheries in 2025.
Biography Chun was born in April 1971 in Uiryeong County. He gained a bachelor's and master's degrees from Dongguk University.
Chun was Chief Secretary of the Second Presidential Secretariat. Chun unsuccessfully attempted to be elected to the National Assembly in the 18th and 19th general elections as a member of the Democratic United Party, but was elected to the National Assembly in the 20th National Assembly as a member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Chun served three terms in the National Assembly. Chun was nominated to become the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries in June 2025.
Chun resigned from the ministry due to allegations regarding Chun receiving illegal payments from the Unification Church on 11 December 2025. According to Yun Young-ho, the former head of the Unification Church's global headquarters, Chun was alleged to have received 20 million won and a luxury watch in 2018 and another watch and more won in 2020 in exchange for help getting approval for an undersea tunnel between South Korea and Japan. Police questioned him for more than 14 hours. A task force of prosecution and police officials refused to prosecute Chun due to a lack of evidence. The task force indicted 4 of Chun's aides for destroying evidence.
Chun became the Democratic Party of Korea's candidate for the mayor of Busan on 9 April 2026. He won the mayoral election on 4 June, defeating the People Power Party nominee and incumbent mayor Park Heong-joon.
Election results General elections Year Elections Constituency Political party Votes (%) Results 2008 18th National Assembly General Election Buk-Gangseo A (Busan) UDP 20,322 (38.57%) Defeated 2012 19th National Assembly General Election Buk-Gangseo A (Busan) DUP 35,069 (47.60%) Defeated 2016 20th National Assembly General Election Buk-Gangseo A (Busan) Democratic 48,887 (55.92%) Won 2020 21st National Assembly General Election Buk-Gangseo A (Busan) Democratic 48,733 (50.58%) Won 2024 22nd National Assembly General Election Buk A (Busan) Democratic 43,548 (52.31%) Won
Local elections Mayor of Busan Year Elections Constituency Political party Votes (%) Remarks 2026 9th Iocal Election Busan(Mayoral Elections) Democratic 885,608 (50.52%) Won
Mayor of Buk Year Elections Constituency Political party Votes (%) Remarks 2006 4th Iocal Election Mayor of Buk Uri 32,917 (32.80%) Defeated
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