Pi Woo-jin (; born 20 August 1956) is a first generation female helicopter pilot of

South Korean Army The Republic of Korea Army (ROKA; ko, 대한민국 육군; Hanja: 大韓民國陸軍; RR: ''Daehanminguk Yuk-gun''), also known as the ROK Army or South Korean Army, is the army of South Korea, responsible for ground-based warfare. It is the l ...

previously served as President

Moon Jae-in Moon Jae-in (; ; born 24 January 1953) is a South Korean former politician, civil servant and lawyer who served as the 12th president of South Korea between 2017 and 2022. Prior to his presidency, he served as Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs an ...

's first Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs of South Korea from 2017 to 2019. She is the first woman to lead this ministry. After graduating from university in 1978, Pi worked as a teacher at a night school where she saw an ad from

. In 1979 she was commissioned as Second Lieutenant after passing the cadet exam and training. Since 1981 she worked as a helicopter pilot after completing relevant training. In 2002 Pi was diagnosed with breast cancer. After having a mastectomy on both breasts to avoid any discomfort in military service - even though only one was medically necessary - she returned to health and therefore army. In 2006 she was forced to be discharged for being diagnosed with disability defined by military code. During the lawsuit to overthrow the decision and therefore be reinstated to the army, she ran as a proportional representative candidate for the New Progressive Party in the 2008 general election. She quit the party as soon as she won the legal battle since no military officer can hold party membership. In 2009 Pi rejoined the army and lead the Department of Training and Doctrine Development at the Army Aviation School for over three months before she was discharged due to the standard retirement age for her rank. She holds two degrees in physical education: bachelor from

Cheongju University Cheongju University is a private university located in Cheongju City, the capital of North Chungcheong province, South Korea. Academics Undergraduate studies at the university are divided among eight colleges: Economics & Business Administration ...

in 1978 and master's from

Konkuk University Konkuk University () is a South Korean private university founded in 1946. The university was founded based on three virtues: sincerity, fidelity, and righteousness. Konkuk University gives comprehensive education in agricultural and life scien ...

in 1986.

Electoral history

Published works

Pi's biography ''Female Soldiers Do Not Like Chocolates (2006)''

References

External links

Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pi, Woo-jin Konkuk University alumni 1956 births Living people Government ministers of South Korea Women government ministers of South Korea South Korean aviators Helicopter pilots South Korean military personnel People from Chungju Hongcheon Pi clan