Kim Dae Jung

Man of Peace and God

"I have lived, and continue to live, in the belief that God is always with me. I know this from experience. I was kidnapped from my hotel room in Tokyo by intelligence agents... They tied me up, blinded me, and stuffed my mouth. Just when they were about to throw me overboard, Jesus Christ appeared before me with such clarity. I clung to him and begged him to save me" (BBC News) A great man once said this when he received his Noble Peace Prize, for in his darkest time he prayed to God that he would live. When God answered and saved him, Kim Dae Jung eventually lived to bring democracy and peace in and around his country. South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung was born on December 3, 1925 as the second son to a farmer in a small village on an island of South Korea's southwestern coast. Kim began a successful career as an entrepreneur, but his experience during the Korean War and the political upheaval of the country sparked the idea that only righteous politics could save his people and the country. He entered politics in 1960 as an opposition member in the national assembly and became a spokesman for the Democratic Party in 1963. Kim faced ordeals and challenges during his struggle for democracy and human rights. When he was sworn in as the eighth President of South Korea on 25 February 1998, Kim Dae Jung took office in the midst of the economic crisis that hit South Korea. He vigorously pushed economic reform and restructuring, in the process significantly altering the landscape of South Korean economy. President Kim's  vision for the reunification and harmony of the North and South Koreans led him to pursue the "Sunshine Policy", a policy of engagement toward North Korea. He and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il worked together on a joint declaration they signed on June 15, 2000 paving the way for a brighter future for all Koreans. According to BBC News, Kim became known as the "Nelson Mandela of Asia" for his long-standing opposition to authoritarian rule and his work towards North Korea. He wanted a world where human rights and peace are enjoyed and the fear of dictatorial rule only a bad dream, so he spent his entire life promoting the ideas of a free nation in the Korean peninsula. Kim Dae Jung, a true leader of the people, possessed an unshakable persistence, wielded his natural talents to promote peace not only to South Korea, but to the world.

President Kim pursued his dream with head crunching persistence.  He faced many tribulations, but instead of hampering his efforts, it made Kim into a more determined person: "In spite of many threats on his life and a series of imprisonments, he continued to show resistance to political repression under the Fifth Republic."("Kim Dae-Jung." Encyclopedia of World Biography) Though he was not ignorant of the dangers, Kim kept pushing himself through thick and thin and fought for his personal philosophy. He knew then if he gave up, corruption would spread through the country like wildfire. In fact, he opposed such corruption early in his political career, but paid a price for such acts: "Kim was almost killed in August 1973, when he was kidnapped from a hotel in Tokyo by KCIA agents in response to his criticism of President Park's yushin program, which granted near-dictatorial powers." (BBC News) This was the time when Kim was almost killed, but even after this event, he still continued to combat corruption in South Korea. Fighting for what he believed for, Kim met much resistance. But after pushing through the hardships that came, Kim finally emerged victorious after his efforts not only helped overthrow the previous dictatorial government, at the same time presenting himself as a figure of true perseverance. His dedication for what he believes shows that he is a hero in every sense of the word. 

Throughout his life, Kim Dae Jung demonstrated an unusual ability in leadership. To avoid Japanese Colonial military conscription, he gave up his acceptance to university and  joined a shipping company, where he: ".worked in the accounting and finance department of Mokpo Marine Transportation Company.Kim worked successfully to take over the company. He reorganized it, renamed it . and became its president. Kim, still in his twenties, prospered as a businessman." ("Kim Dae-Jung. "Encyclopedia of World Biography) With this gift of leadership, he later used it to promote civil rights, trying to support a better life for all Koreans. When Kim first became president, he proved his talent yet again when he faced a near impossible task: "Taking over the government in the midst of an unprecedented financial crisis, President Kim devoted himself to the task of economic recovery and managed to pull the country back from the brink of bankruptcy." ("Kim Dae-Jung - Biography". Nobelprize.org.) He is both a great leader and a great man, for he used his talents to steer South Korea as one of the world's most technologically and economically advanced nations.  Looking at the recent Greek government debt crisis, the lack of leadership is a great factor that caused the country to go bankrupt. But thanks to Kim, South Korea managed to slog through such a tough time and come back around to become one of Asia's economically strong countries. Not all leaders are good, for great leaders demonstrate an understanding of human rights and freedom. With this, Kim Dae Jung is a great leader.

There has been no one in the history of the world that has not been truly admired for  being a peace advocate, which is why Kim Dae Jung should be truly admired. His work towards the achievement of a democratic government where people will participate in the governance of the country was proven when Kim was elected as president: "When he was inaugurated as the eighth President of the Republic of Korea, it marked the first peaceful transition of power from the ruling to the opposition party in Korea's modern history. (Kim Dae-jung - Biography". Nobelprize.org) As an ambitious humanitarian, he fixed his country and reformed it against corruption. In the end, did not use force to win the vote of the people, unlike his precedents. There were no assassinations, no violence, only the voice of a peace advocate to steer the people to the right path. But Kim's actions did not just help the democracy in South Korea; he changed the world forever with his involvement in North Korea: "Kim met with North Korean ruler Kim Jong IL; this was the first summit meeting between leaders of the two countries, which had been bitter rivals for 50 years. The two men signed an agreement in which they vowed to seek peace and reunification. They also agree to allow visits between family members who had been separated by the two nations' border and to resolve other humanitarian issues." (BBC News) Kim fought to keep a stable community for his own country, so he broke the ice between the two countries. His work with the North began a new age in the South. Thanks to his Sunshine policy, which described a more peaceful relationship between the two countries, Kim made peace with one of the most temperamental countries in the world and improved the relationship of a 50 year rivalry. This marked a time where families, North or South, are reunited for the first time after the separation of the peninsula. Kim Dae Jung is a peace advocate, not only for his work in South Korea, but also creating stability in the countries of East Asia.  

Henry Longfellow's poem, The Song of the Hiawatha, connects to Kim's ideals for democracy and human rights perfectly: "Buried was the bloody hatchet, / Buried was the dreadful war club, / Buried where all warlike weapons, / And the war cry was forgotten, / There was peace among the nations." (The Song of the Hiawatha) Kim's perseverance, great leadership , and his love for peace brought harmony among the Korean nations. A man of great values, Kim clung to his ideas of democracy and human rights even in times of great peril. His work for South Korea helped millions of people and made Korea a better place for all who live there, and because he persevered through the hardships and turmoil that came, he eventually became a legend in the history of Korean and the world. Even after his death in 2009, Kim Dae Jung is still a man to admire, for he spent his entire life to make the world a better place. Now that the North and South Korea are politically tense again, I think that everybody could remember Kim Dae Jung and his contributions. Being ethnically Korean, I feel that I have a connection to this man. President Kim inspires me to persist through hardships. His great leadership will encourage me in the future to be a leader that uses persuasion, not force. His love for human rights and peace taught me to always treasure the peaceful and harmonious situation I live in.  We must thank God for saving this man, for he has saved millions in turn.