Kim Dae-jung
Kim Dae-jung (Korean: 김대중; Hanja: 金大中; Korean pronunciation: [kim.dɛ.dʑuŋ]; 6 January 1924 – 18 August 2009) was a South Korean politician and activist who served as the 8th (15th election) president of South Korea from 1998 to 2003.
Kim Dae-jung | |
|---|---|
김대중 金大中 | |
Official portrait, 1998 | |
| 8th President of South Korea | |
| In office 25 February 1998 – 24 February 2003 | |
| Prime Minister |
|
| Preceded by | Kim Young-sam |
| Succeeded by | Roh Moo-hyun |
| President of the Millennium Democratic Party | |
| In office 20 January 2000 – 8 November 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Position established (as President of the National Congress for New Politics) |
| Succeeded by | Han Kwang-ok (acting) |
| President of the National Congress for New Politics | |
| In office 5 September 1995 – 20 January 2000 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished (as President of the Millennium Democratic Party) |
| Member of the National Assembly | |
| In office 30 May 1988 – 19 December 1992 | |
| Constituency | Proportional Representation |
| In office 1 July 1971 – 17 October 1972 | |
| Constituency | Proportional Representation |
| In office 17 December 1963 – 30 June 1971 | |
| Constituency | Mokpo (South Jeolla) |
| In office 14 May 1961 – 16 May 1961 | |
| Constituency | Inje (Gangwon) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 January 1924 Hauido, Zenranan-dō, Korea, Empire of Japan |
| Died | 18 August 2009 (aged 85) Seoul, South Korea |
| Resting place | Seoul National Cemetery |
| Other political affiliations | Democratic (1955–1961, 1963–1965) People (1965–1967) New Democratic (1967–1972) Reunification Democratic (1987) Peace Democratic (1987–1991) Democratic (1991–1995) National Congress (1995–2000) Democratic (2000–2002) |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Mokpo Commercial High School |
| Awards | Nobel Peace Prize (2000) Philadelphia Liberty Medal (1999) |
| Religion | Catholic (Christian Name: Thomas More) |
| Signature | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | South Korea |
| Branch/service | Republic of Korea Navy |
| Rank | Student Soldier |
| Kim Dae-jung | |
| Hangul | 김대중 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | 金大中 |
| Revised Romanization | Gim Daejung |
| McCune–Reischauer | Kim Taejung |
| Art name | |
| Hangul | 후광 |
| Hanja | 後廣 |
| Revised Romanization | Hugwang |
| McCune–Reischauer | Hugwang |
Kim entered politics as a member of the new wing of the Democratic Party. He was an opposition politician who carried out a democratization movement against military dictatorship from the Third Republic in the 1960s to the Fifth Republic in the 1980s. He continued to lose in presidential elections until the 7th presidential election in 1971, the 13th presidential election in 1987, and the 14th presidential election in 1992. Still, in the 15th presidential election in 1997, he defeated Grand National Party candidate Lee Hoi-chang through an alliance with Kim Jong-pil and DJP. Kim was the first opposition candidate to win the presidency. At the time of his inauguration in 1998, he was 74 years old, making him the oldest president in history.
He promoted the Sunshine Policy, a policy of appeasement toward North Korea, and held the first-ever inter-Korean summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in June 2000. 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 in December 2000. He is also the only Korean to have won the Nobel Prize to date. He was sometimes referred to as "the Nelson Mandela of Asia". After completing his term in 2003, he died at the age of 85 on 18 August 2009 due to multiple organ failure and respiratory distress syndrome caused by pneumonia.