Comparison of "Kim Dae-jung's Policy and Lee Myung-bak's Policy" Towards North Korea

Abstract

This research aimed to study the relationship between the two policies from two different administrations, that of Kim Dae-jung policy and Lee Myung-bak policy towards North Korea, to identify their similarities and differences as well as to determine which factors influenced the two policies to be formulated. The research was a qualitative research which was done by collecting secondary data from the leaders' speeches, including inter-Korean issues, books, research, journals, internet resources, and reliable information mainly related to the Sunshine policy of President Kim and the Vision 3000 Denuclearization and Openness policy of President Lee. The research results showed that (1) President Kim's and President Lee's policies were similar in purpose to develop inter-Korean relations and assist North Korea. Moreover, both policies helped North Korea building up relations with outsider by opening its country. The differences were the ways in which the South Korean leaders approached the North. While President Kim Dae-jung applied a soft-line policy, President Lee Myung-bak applied a hard-line policy; (2) the major factor that influenced the two different policies' formulation was the leader characteristics of the leader. However, there were also external factors - major powers' policy that pushed leader to decide in that way. Thus, it could be said the difference of leader characteristic caused different policy formulation and implementation.