Kim Dae-jung

Kim Dae-jung was a South Korean politician and activist who served as the eighth president of South Korea from 1998 to 2003. He was a 2000 Nobel Peace Prize recipient for his work for democracy and human rights in South Korea and in East Asia in general, and for peace and reconciliation with North Korea and Japan. He is also the only Korean to have won the Nobel Prize to date. Kim Dae-jung was born on January 6, 1924, on Haui Island, Sinan County, South Korea. He was the second of seven children. His father, Kim Un-sik, was a farmer. Kim was a 12th generation descendant of Kim Ik-soo, who served as a minister during the Joseon dynasty. Kim attended Mokpo Commercial High School, but he did not graduate due to the Japanese occupation of Korea. He became involved in the Korean independence movement and joined the Dongji Hoi, a secret organization that fought against the Japanese colonial rule. He also worked as a clerk, a teacher, and a journalist. ² Kim entered politics in 1954, when he was elected to the National Assembly as a member of the Democratic Party. He became a prominent opposition leader and a vocal critic of the authoritarian regimes of Syngman Rhee, Park Chung-hee, and Chun Doo-hwan. He survived several assassination attempts, including a kidnapping by South Korean agents in Tokyo in 1973, and a death sentence for his alleged role in the Gwangju uprising in 1980. He was pardoned by Chun in 1982, after a massive campaign by the Catholic Church and the international community. He also spent several years in exile in the United States and Japan. ² Kim ran for president four times, in 1971, 1987, 1992, and 1997. He lost the first three elections, but he finally won the presidency in 1997, becoming the first opposition candidate to do so. He was also the oldest person to be elected president in South Korea, at the age of 73. He took office in 1998, amid the Asian financial crisis that had severely damaged the South Korean economy. He implemented various reforms to stabilize the economy, promote democracy, and fight corruption. He also pursued a policy of engagement and reconciliation with North Korea, known as the Sunshine Policy, which aimed to reduce tensions and foster cooperation between the two Koreas. He held a historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang in 2000, the first meeting between the leaders of the two Koreas since the Korean War. He also improved relations with Japan, China, and the United States. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for his efforts to promote peace and democracy in Korea and in the region. ² Kim retired from politics in 2003, after completing his single five-year term. He remained active in public life, as a lecturer, a writer, and a global citizen. He also continued to advocate for peace and human rights, especially in North Korea. He died on August 18, 2009, at the age of 85, from pneumonia and multiple organ failure. He was buried at the Seoul National Cemetery, with full state honors. He was survived by his second wife, Lee Hee-ho, and his three sons. He was widely regarded as one of the most influential and respected figures in modern Korean history. ²