President Kim Dae Jung of South Korea was born on December 3, 1925 in an island off the coast of southwestern Korea.  Called Hugwangri, he grew up on a farm.  Kim continued his studies until he graduated from Mokpo Commercial High School in 1943.  Even when growing up during the Japanese colonial era, Kim had been critical of the ways in which the Japanese treated his people.  Even later on when Korea gained independence from Japan, Kim was critical of the existing government ruled by dictator Syngman Rhee.

Due to his strong belief in the system of Democracy, Kim Dae Jung was at one point labeled a Communist.  From dictators after Syngman Rhee, such as Park Jong Hee or Chun Du Hwan, Kim was a constant victim.  He had endured 14 years of exile, jail, house arrest and as many as five assassination attempts.

However, through all of these experiences, Kim's ideal future for the Korean peninsula has not changed.  In fact, Kim became a stronger advocate of change in the peninsula.  In the year 1997, Kim was finally elected to office in the Republic of Korea.  He stepped into the position of Head of State at a time when the peninsula was fighting economic crisis and hardship.

During his presidency, Kim took a very strong stance in Democratizing South Korea and developing a more cooperative relationship between North Korea and South Korea.  He used a method called the Sunshine Policy, which involved positive and friendly measures against the North.  Finally, on June 13, 2000, Kim Dae Jung succeeded in bringing together a joint summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea.

Throughout the three days, Kim exchanged amicable conversations with Kim Jong Il and succeeded in improving the relations between the North and the South.  For his continuous efforts in bringing peace back to the peninsula, Kim was awarded with the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize.

   Kim Dae Jung: CNN Special

   Kim Dae Jung Biography (from the Korean Government Website)

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