Kim Young-Sam
(b. 1927), South Korean president. Kim Young-sam served as president of the Republic of Korea from 1993 until 1998, when he was defeated by longtime personal and political rival Kim Dae Jung. His presidency was noteworthy in two respects. Kim was the first civilian president in the postwar period, and he oversaw the first civilian transfer of power in South Korea's short history.
Kim was born in 1927 on Koje Island in South Kyongsang Province. After graduating from Seoul National University in 1952, he entered government service. His political debut came soon thereafter: he won a seat in the National Assembly in 1954 as a member of the ruling Liberal Party. Shortly after, however, Kim switched his political affiliation and defected to the opposition Democratic Party.
In 1972 Kim lost his bid to become the New Democratic Party's presidential nominee, as factionalism within the party divided support between Kim Dae Jung and himself. Although set back by his defeat, Kim became leader of the New Democratic Party in 1974, but he was expelled from the National Assembly in 1978 in the political crisis that enveloped the presidency of Park Chung Hee. Following the coup thatbrought Chun Doo Hwan to power, Kim was placed under house arrest until May 1983. Although banned from political activity, Kim became cochair of the Council for Promotion of Democracy in 1984 and became an adviser to the New Korea Democratic Party in 1986.
Kim Young-sam speaking to the media during the 1987 presidential election campaign. (DAVID & PETER TURNLEY/CORBIS)In the preceding year, Kim established a new political party, the Reunification Democratic Party, and ran as its presidential candidate against Roh Tae Woo and Kim Dae Jung. Defeated in the presidential election, Kim merged his Reunification Democratic Party with the New Democratic Republican Party to form the Democratic Liberal Party, of which he was chosen chairman.
Kim ran in and won the 1992 South Korean presidential election. Kim Young-sam's term in office can be best characterized by its cold relations with North Korea, the trials of former presidents Chun Doo Hwan and Roh Tae Woo, and the trial of his own son for corruption and tax evasion.
Further Reading
Kim Young Sam. (1993) Crusader for Democracy: The Life and Times of Kim Young Sam. Seoul: Yonhap News Agency.
Oberdorfer, Don. (1997) The Two Koreas: A Contemporary History. Reading, MA: Addison Wesley Longham.
This is the complete article, containing 390 words
(approx. 1 page at 300 words per page).
