Kim Dae-jung

8th President of the Republic of Korea (1924-2009) · South Korea · Politicians · Died at 85

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Five near-death experiences, six years in prison, a death sentence from his own government - and then he won the presidency at 74. Kim Dae-jung spent decades as the opposition figure South Korea's military dictators couldn't quite kill, and took the Nobel for opening a door to the North.

Politicians Politician Politics Journalism South Korea Asia 20th Century

A life in dates

2009Died18 August 2009“Eventually, North Korea will come out for dialogue.”In their words17 August 2009Reuters, 17 August 2009Read the whole statement

2001Honorary Doctorate from the University of CambridgeAward2000Nobel Peace PrizeAwardRafto PrizeAward1999“For human rights issues, I think the intervention or support from the outside world is important.”In their words8 November 1999Washington Times, 8 November 1999Read the whole statement

“I am confident in my dealings with the heads. I believe that I have won their trust because, I have asked them for nothing.”In their words13 September 1999TIME Asia, 13 September 1999Read the whole statement

“I believe democracy is the foundation of a healthy economy. Without genuine democracy you cannot have a genuine market economy.”In their words13 September 1999TIME Asia, 13 September 1999Read the whole statement

“If parents can tell their kids, `Look at Kim Dae Jung: Live upright, put your effort into a good cause and you will be successful,' then I think my life would be very meaningful”In their words9 January 1999The Washington Post, 9 January 1999Read the whole statement

Silver Olympic OrderAward1998“In an era of a global economy, we can't survive without foreign investment. We must change our attitude toward foreign investment. We should welcome it.”In their words18 January 1998The Washington Post, 18 January 1998Read the whole statement

1924Born6 January 1924

Also in Deutsch

Photos 8

Kim Dae-jung presidential portrait

2008년 대통령 김대중, 소방공무원 김복경

385kimdaejung19980105

Bill Clinton Kim Dae-Jung (cropped headshot)

Bill Clinton Kim Dae-Jung (cropped)

Isang Yun and Suja Lee urging to release Kim dae-jung

Jean Carnahan and Kim Dae-jung

In their own words 10

Kim Dae-jung

10 statements, newest first

Eventually, North Korea will come out for dialogue.
Aug 17, 2009, Reuters, 17 August 2009, Own words
So when the U.N. made a resolution and asked us to send troops to East Timor, we took this as a responsibility that we must take, and also this was to repay them for their favors.
Nov 8, 1999, Washington Times, 8 November 1999, Own words
For human rights issues, I think the intervention or support from the outside world is important.
Nov 8, 1999, Washington Times, 8 November 1999, Own words

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

Awards

Honorary Doctorate from the University of Cambridge2001

Nobel Peace Prize2000

Rafto Prize2000

Silver Olympic Order1999

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George

Bruno Kreisky Award for Services to Human Rights

Philadelphia Liberty Medal

Grand Cross 1st class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany

Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic

Honorary Doctor of the University of Portland

Grand Order of Mugunghwa

Family

Father Kim Won Sik

Kim Dae-jung

Partners

Children

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About this person

Kim Dae-jung left business for politics after the Korean War and joined the Democratic Party's reform wing. Through the 1960s to the 1980s he led the democratization movement against successive military regimes, surviving assassination attempts, a rigged car accident, imprisonment, house arrest, exile, and a death sentence. He lost presidential bids in 1971, 1987, and 1992 before finally winning in 1997 through an opposition alliance - the first time a non-ruling party candidate took the Blue House. He inherited the wreckage of the 1997 Asian financial crisis and steered South Korea through privatization and industrial restructuring. In June 2000 he held the first inter-Korean summit with Kim Jong Il under his Sunshine Policy of détente, earning the Nobel Peace Prize that December for his work on democracy, human rights, and reconciliation across East Asia. He left office in 2003 and died in August 2009 at 85 from pneumonia complications.

Country

South Korea

Politicians from South Korea 6

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