Why did Kim Dae-Jung win the peace prize?

Answer 1

Kim Dae Jung

The Nobel peace prize criteria are often explained with this quote:

"the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses,"

I believe that the things Kim Dae Jung did during his lifetime are accordance with this.

Kim Dae Jung was born and raised on the island of Haui off the South Coast of Korea. Being raised there he realised his countries need for democracy and that no one as taking action. He was the second of two boys born to a farmer. After graduating from high school in 1943 at the top of his class, he started work at a Japanese shipping company and eventually became the owner which brought him a hefty income.

Kim Dae Jung believed in human rights and democracy. He made efforts to champion these principles in his dealings with governments in Asia and around the world.

He has always said that he believes in reconciliation and the forgiveness of one's enemies. After being sentenced to death for his political activism he wrote a letter to his son saying:

"Only the truly magnanimous and strong are capable of forgiving and loving. Let us persevere, then, praying always that God will help us to have the strength to love and forgive our enemies. Let us together, in this way, become the loving victors."

In the year 2000 Kim Dae Jung was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Although he had been considered many times for the prize, he was given the accolade for his attempts to reconcile the Korean Republic with neighboring North Korea.

Kim Dae Jung also holds Christian religious beliefs, this taught him to be strong in times of hardship and it also gave him a different perspective on the way his nation was being run.

He was a loved member of the Korean government as a successful law maker. But when he started campaigning for democracy, human rights and peaceful reunification, and the communist parties could see he was popular among the people, they started to take action. He escaped death four times; each was set up by the Korean government's communist parties. Even after this he still spent his whole life campaigning for democracy in Korea and earned the nickname 'the Nelson Mandela of Asia'

The issues that cause Kim Dae Jung to act were witnessing the mistreatment of his peers by the communist government of Korea. He also saw that the nation was being torn apart and that someone needed to try to reunify Korea.

Answer 2

Kim Dae-Jung won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for his efforts in promoting reconciliation and peace with North Korea. His "Sunshine Policy" aimed at fostering dialogue and engagement between South Korea and North Korea, reducing tensions on the Korean peninsula. His dedication to peaceful interactions and reconciliation efforts were recognized by the Nobel Committee.