Kim Dae-Jung
Kim Dae-Jung was born on Thursday, December 03, 1925 in Hugwangri and he is a famous head of state from South Korea of Roman Catholic religion. Kim Dae Jung, the fifteenth President of Korea is mainly known for his opposition to and lifelong struggle against the authoritarian rule in Korea.
He was most significant leader who took the nation wide pro-democratic movement on to another stage despite several hurdles laid by the authoritarian government. Having failed in his two attempts to come in power, Kim had endured several other troubles and trails before he was finally elected to the presidency, including abduction, several house arrests and at least five attempts on his life.
In December 1997, when he was finally elected to the presidency, the country was amid its worst financial crisis. Kim, as President took the helm during its most crucial phase and hauled the country back from the verge of collapsing. The process of reformation and reconstruction that Kim started many years back still continues in Korea. The former president received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 and became the first Nobel Laureate from Korea.
Kim Dae-Jung was born on 3 December 1925 in a small village of South Jeolla in South Korea and received his graduation degree from a commercial high school in 1943. His career in politics started during the administration of Syngman Rhee, who was the first president of Korea. After two unsuccessful attempts, he was elected as a representative to the National Assembly in 1961, but the assembly was dissolved by a military coup led by Park hung-hee who later established himself as a dictator.
Kim Dae Jung's political career took a head start when he won a seat in the house in the two subsequent elections in 1963 and 1967, thus becoming a distinguished opposition leader. He was appointed the spokesman for the Democratic Party in 1965 and the following year he was made the chairman of the Party's policy planning committee. Kim Dae Jung contested for the presidency against Park in 1971. Though he failed in his run for the position, he successfully gave a close chase to Park. A great orator he was, he gained unwavering loyalty from his party members and his native place Jeolla, where he received a record % of the popular vote, which has remained unsurpassed in South Korean politics.
Kim Dae-Jung was sworn in as the fifteenth President of South Korea on 25 February 1998 after a controversial victory. He took charge of the office when the economic crisis had reached its peak in South Korea. Kim briskly pushed economic reforms recommended by the International Monetary Fund and employed effective measures to revitalize the declining economy. His policies brought transparency in the accounting practices and subsidies to large corporations were dropped or cut altogether. The country witnessed a phenomenon recovery from the Asian Financial Crisis under his administration although many believe that the recovery was inevitable.
Kim is credited with his successfully negotiation with North Korea; adopting a policy that has been termed the Sunshine Policy. However, North Korea violated the term of the engagement policy by developing nuclear weapons and has not withdrawn the North Korean Troops; Kim's visit to North Korean premier Kim Jong-il led to his winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000. Kim Dae-Jung completed his five year presidential term in 2003 to be succeeded by Roh Moo-hyun.