Former Presidents

By Tong Kim

Of the five living former presidents of Korea ― including Chun Doo-hwan, Roh Tae-woo Kim Yong-sam and Roh Moo-hyun ― Kim Dae-jung (DJ), is still actively advocating his ``sunshine policy." It is DJ's lifetime commitment to ``conflict resolution through dialogue, exchange and peaceful cooperation to achieve a win-win situation."

DJ's immediate successor Roh Moo-hyun is becoming a popular former president after he returned to his native rural village, which has become an attractive tourist point of interest. He joins other villagers in cleaning the streets and streams of the village, runs a homepage to communicate with the public, and meets groups of visitors who come in busloads. Unlike when he was in office he is careful not to make politically explosive comments.

Chun Doo-hwan is credited for a successful control of inflation and a positive trade surplus during his presidency, and Roh Tae-woo for opening relations with the Soviet Union and China. But these two former generals have a humiliating record of serving prison terms as former presidents and they are yet to fulfill court orders for financial restitutions to the government. Roh is fighting a disease and Chun is not doing much.

Kim Yong-sam openly supported President Lee Myung-bak during the election, but he scolded the Grand National Party for excluding some of his followers from party nominations in last month's general elections. The conservative former president still makes strong statements on domestic politics. Other than that, he is not doing much either. Kim is credited for cleaning up ``politicking soldiers" and for the bold implementation of a ``real name" bank account system.

The ``malaise" president Jimmy Carter ― the legacy of whose administration is not favorably treated by critics ― is often described as a successful former president. In the arena of international relations, he has made breakthroughs for peaceful talks with North Korea and the Middle East. He is still active. The ``Watergate" president Richard Nixon authored several books sharing his insights for world affairs, after he was forced to resign.

What Roh Moo-hyun, 61, might do with his retired life beyond this point remains to be seen. With his predisposition to meet a challenge head on, he may come back as a fighter again. One thing is assured: he has plenty of time and ability to positively contribute to the nation as a former president if he chooses to do so.

In contrast to the other former presidents, DJ is still working as the chief agent of his ``sunshine policy" that led to the historic first inter-Korean summit in June 2002. He believes there is no viable alternative to the Sunshine Policy for the path to denuclearization and peaceful unification. He recently said he would defend and expand the support for his conviction as long as he lives. The Sunshine Policy is his philosophy and a vision for the Korean nation.

Like Carter, DJ runs a peace research center to host an annual conference among the world's renowned figures to discuss the issues of peace and democracy. No other former president has a presidential library dedicated to his name. On the seventh anniversary of his winning the Nobel Peace Prize, the Kim Dae Jung Center held an evening of commemoration to promote ``Democracy in Burma."

DJ's accomplishments include the first, true democratic transition of power and an economic recovery from the financial crisis of the mid nineties. With a strong sense of mission, he gives speeches and press interviews at home and abroad.

Despite his health problem, he traveled to the United States twice since last October to support the peace efforts on the Korean Peninsula, speaking at the National Press Club and the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies in Washington D.C., the Korea Society in New York, Portland University and the World Affairs Council of Portland and Harvard University and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in Boston.

The precepts of the sunshine policy are: disapproval of communism but no intention of seeking a regime change either by force or absorption and pursuing peaceful coexistence through exchanges and cooperation toward the ultimate goal of peaceful unification, while maintaining a strong security alliance with the United States.

During his recent visit to the United States, which coincided with President Lee's visit to Washington, DJ said that the incumbent president has ``a quick sense of reality," therefore he expects that President Lee would eventually reengage North Korea to build a peace structure. DJ also disclosed that Lee agreed on the merits of the sunshine policy when they met prior to Lee's election.

The sunshine policy is not without criticisms: many conservatives who distrust North Korea think that this policy failed because there was no reciprocal response from the North for the good will and the substantial amount of economic aid from the South. In answer to a recent question regarding support in the Korean press, the architect of the policy said:

``The press is divided on the sunshine policy. Some criticize or disregard it … But since my visit to Pyongyang, 60 percent of the people at a given time, and 80-90 percent at one point, supported the sunshine policy. No Koreans either on the right or the left want war. So I believe it will succeed at the end of the day."

DJ supports the six-party process with bilateral U.S.-DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) negotiation, which has come a long way, yet its end is not in sight. He calls for a ``give-and-take" deal that will benefit both sides. At this point the North seems to have decided to give up the plutonium production facilities in return for its delisting from the U.S. list of terrorism sponsors.

The U.S. decision to resume the provision of food aid in 500,000 tons is not purely based on humanitarian considerations. The South Korean government is also seeking a face saving way to send food to the North, which may soon face famine but still would not beg for food from the South. But there will come a turning point, as it has in the past after difficult circumstances.

The Seoul government needs a transformed North Korean policy. It is not easy to find an effective alternative to the engagement policy that contributed to a better mutual understanding between the North and the South and eased tension for peace and stability for the past 10 years ― despite some problems with it. What's your take?

Tong Kim is former senior interpreter at the U.S. State Department and now a research professor with Ilmin Institute of International Relations at Korea University and an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University SAIS. He can be reached at tong.kim8@yahoo.com