황우여 黃祐呂
Former judge turned five-term lawmaker who served as Saenuri Party leader and Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education
| Life | 1947 |
| Era | 현대 |
| Clan | 창원 황씨 |
Life & career
Hwang Woo-yea (黃祐呂, born 3 August 1947) is a South Korean jurist and politician, a former judge. He belongs to the Changwon Hwang clan, and Namuwiki gives his generation character as 'U' (祐), twentieth generation in the Gonghui-gong line. He graduated from Incheon Songnim Elementary, Incheon Middle School and Jemulpo High School, finished Seoul National University law school in 1969 and earned a doctorate in constitutional law there in 1982. Information about his father was not confirmed here.
He was appointed judge at the Jinju branch of Busan District Court in 1974, then served as judge in Seoul, Supreme Court research judge and presiding judge in Chuncheon, Jeju and Incheon, and was a commissioner of the Board of Audit and Inspection from 1993 to 1996. In 1996 he entered the National Assembly (15th, proportional) and then won Incheon Yeonsu for the 16th to 19th Assemblies, five terms in all. In party politics he served as Grand National Party secretary-general and floor leader, and Saenuri Party floor leader and leader.
He became acting Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education in July 2014, was promoted to Deputy Prime Minister in August, and served until January 2016. After working as a lawyer and endowed professor he chaired the People Power Party's emergency committee from May to July 2024, and in 2025 headed election management committees for the party. His works include The State and the Church and he received the Order of Service Merit (Hwangjo) in 1996. Assessments of his politics vary by party, so this entry sticks to his public career.
Besides party work he is noted as chairman of the Korea-Japan parliamentarians' union, head of a Korea-Japan youth federation and vice-president of the Seoul National University alumni association. As a constitutional-law scholar he also left papers and a translation, Man in the Law. As he is living, this entry sticks to public career, and current posts should be checked in official sources.
Judge and Audit Commissioner
Appointed judge in 1974, he served as Supreme Court research judge and presiding judge in several district courts and, from 1993, as a commissioner of the Board of Audit and Inspection.
Five Terms in the Assembly
After the 15th Assembly on the proportional list, he represented Incheon Yeonsu in the 16th to 19th and served as floor leader and Saenuri Party leader.
Deputy Prime Minister
He served as Education Minister and Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs from 2014 until January 2016.