Former Presidents in Korea

Academic Background

Period	Name of School	Major	Remarks
1895	Bae Jae Hak Dang (School)
1905	University of Washington	Political Science	Bachelor of Arts
1906	Harvard University		Master of Arts
1910	Princeton University	International Politics	Ph.D.

Personal History

Period	career history
-	Teacher, Bae Jae Hak Dang (School)
1896-	Reporter, HyeopSeong Newspaper
1898-	Imprisoned for seven years in connection with the National Independence Organization case
1904-	Released from jail, goes to America
1912-	Korea Representative, World Methodist Church Mass Meeting
1914-	The first edition of the Pacific Weekly in Hawaii
1917-	Founds the Christian Army School for National Independence in Honolulu
1919-	Prime Minister, SangHae Provisional Government
1919-	Assumes Office as President of the SangHae Provisional Government
1921-	Resigns due to Exculsion of SangHae Provisional Government, Campaign for National Independence in America
1945-	Returns to Korea, President for Central Organization. President of Democratic Assemblymen
1948-	President of the Constitutional Assembly
1948-	The 1st President of Korea
1951-	President, Foundation of Liberal Party
1952-	The 2nd President of Korea
1956-	The 3rd President of Korea
1960-	Elected as President of Korea
1960-	Leaves office due to April 19th Student Revolution. Leaves for Hawaii
1965-	Passed Away

Major Publications

Independent Spirit
Japan Disclosure (Written in English)
The Inside Facts of Japan. 1940
Chinese Poetry. Seleted Poems -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Academic Background Period Name of School Major Remarks -1930 University of Edinburgh Personal History Period career history 1922- Member of the Korean Provisional Assembly 1945- Adviser, Office of Agriculture and Commerce, Military Government Office 1946- Served as the 4th Mayor of Seoul 1949-1950 The 2nd Ministry of Commerce & Industry 1950-1952 The 2nd President of the Red Cross Society 1949-1950 President, New Life Organization for Disabled Veterans 1949- President, Korea-British Association 1954- Member, 3rd National Assembly( Republic Party, Jongro) 1957- Chairman, Central Office of the Democratic Party 1958-1960 4th and 5th Assemblyman ( Democratic Party) 1959- Supreme Assemblyman of the Democratic Party 1960-1962 The 4th President of Korea 1963- Formation of political party, MinJeong Party 1963- The 6th Assemblyman( Min Jeong Party) 1965- Formation of Minjung Party 1966- Formation of Sin Han Party, President 1967- Runs for President, Sin Min Party 1967- Adviser of SinMin Party 1971-1971 President of GukMin Party 1979- Permanent Adviser for President of Sin Min Party 1979-1990 President, National History Rectifying Organization -1985 Gyeong Hi University, Honorary of doctors of Laws -1985 United State International University, Honorary Doctorate - Law 1990 Passed away Major Publications Thorny Path to National Salvation -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Academic Background Period Name of School Major Remarks -1937 DaeGu National Teachers College Political Science -1942 Manju Army School completion of 2 year course -1946 Military Academy 2th Graduation -1957 Military Staff College International Politics Ph.D. Personal History Period career history 1937-1940 Teacher, MunGyeong Primary School 1946- Captain 1950- Manager, Intelligence Agency 1953- Promoted to Brigadier general 1955- Commander, 5th Division 1957- Commander, 7th Division 1958- Promoted to Major General 1960- Vice Commander, 2nd Korea Army 1961- Lead the May 16th Military Coup 1961-1963 2nd President for National Rebuilding Supreme Association 1962-1963 Acting President 1962-1962 The Head of Cabinet 1963- Retired from Army as General 1963-1979 The 2nd President, Democratic Republic Party 1963-1967 The 5th President of Korea 1971-1972 The 7th President of Korea 1972- President, The National Conference for Unification 1972-1978 The 8th President of Korea 1978-1979 The 9th President of Korea 1979 Shot and killed by Jae Kyu, Kim, Director of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency Major Publications Direction of the Nation Morality of Leaders Nation, Revolution and Myself Potential Energy of the Nation Ways to Achieve National Restoration -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Academic Background Period Name of School Major Remarks -1937 Gyeong Gi High School -1941 Tokyo Teachers College English Language and Literature -1943 Da Tung Institute Political Science -1970 Han Guk University of Foreign Studies Honorary Doctorate - Literature. -1985 Gang Won National University Honorary Doctorate - Law Personal History Period career history 1945-1946 Professor, Teachers College, Seoul National University 1946-1948 Manager, Ministry of Agriculture 1948-1951 Acting Director, return of farm land, Ministry of Agriculture 1951-1951 Director of Trade Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1951-1952 Chief of Trade affairs department, Ministry of foreign Affairs 1951-1952 Headed the ECAFE Trade Development Association 1952-1957 Koreas Consul General Representative to Japan 1957-1959 Councilor of the Representative of Korea to Japan 1958- Headed the 4th Korea-Japan talks 1959-1959 Minister, Representative of Korea to Japan 1959-1960 The 7th Vice Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1959-1960 Active role in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1963-1964 Headquarter Ambassador of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1963-1963 Foreign affairs adviser for acting president who was the head of supreme council for rebuilding the country 1964-1967 The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Federation of Malaysia 1967-1971 The 14th Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1968- Served on the 19th Chief of Cabinet meeting for Colombo Advisory Committee 1971-1975 Special Presidential Adviser for foreign affairs 1972-1976 South Korean Delegation Member for the South-North Co-ordinating Committee 1972- Visited PyeongYang as representative of the South-North Co-ordinating Committee 1975-1976 Acting Prime Minister 1976-1979 The 12th Prime Minister 1979 Acting role as President 1979-1980 President of the National Conference for Unification 1979-1980 The 10th President of Korea 1980- President of Legislative Council for The National Security Council 1980- Resigns presidency 1981-1988 President for the National Administration Advising Committee 1991-1993 President for National History Rectifying Organization 1992- Adviser for holy grounds project of Yeosu- Suncheon Patriotic Martyr Remains for Junggun, Ahn 1993- Honorary President of the National History Rectifying Organization -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Academic Background Period Name of School Major Remarks -1951 DaeGu Technical High School -1955 Military Academy 11th Graduation -1959 Senior Adjutant Academy -1960 Infantry Academy -1965 Military Staff College -1984 Honorary Doctorate Political Personal History Period career history 1955- Appointment to the rank of Lieutenant, Korean Army 1961- Assistant Manager, Special Task Force, Army Headquarters 1961- Civil Service Secretary for Presidential Supreme Council 1963- Manager, Human Affairs, Intelligence Agency 1963- Staff Officer, Human Affairs, Army Headquarters 1966- Vice Commandant, 1st Airborne Special Operation Brigade 1967- The 30th General of the Capital Defense Headquarters 1969- Chief Assistant to the Chief of Staff of the Army 1970- Commander, 29th Brigade, 9th division 1971- Chief of 1st Airborne Special Operations Brigade (Brigadier General) 1973- Brigadier General, Korean Army 1976- Deputy-chief of guards for the Blue House (Presidential Residence) 1977- Promoted to Major General 1978- Commander, 1st Division 1979-1980 Chief of Military Police for the National Army 1980- Promoted to Lieutenant General 1980-1980 Acting Director, Korean Central Intelligence Agency 1980- Permanent Chairman, Legislative Council for National Security 1980- Promoted to General 1980- Retires from Active Duty with the rank of General 1980-1981 The 11th President of Korea 1981-1988 The 12th President of Korea 1981-1987 The 1st President of the MinJeong Party 1987- 1988 Honorary President of the MinJeong Party 1988-1988 President, National Veterans Advisory Council 1992- Adviser for holy grounds project of Yeosu- Suncheon Patriotic Martyr Remains for Junggun, Ahn ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Academic Background Period Name of School Major Remarks -1951 Gyeong Buk High School -1955 Military Academy 11th Graduation -1959 Special Operation School Psychological Warfare -1968 Military Staff College -1989 George Washington University Honorary Doctorate - Law -1991 Moscow University Honorary Doctorate Political Science Personal History Period career history 1956- Platoon leader, Korean Infantry 1960- English Translating/Liaison Officer, Military Information Party 1961- Information Officer, Counter Intelligence Corps 1966- Manager, Counter Intelligence Division 1968- Battalion Chief, Capital Division 1971- Brigade Commander, Korean Infantry 1974- Brigade Commander, Airborne Special Operations 1978- Operation Deputy Director, President Guard Unit -1979 Commander, 9th Division 1979-1980 The 8th Commander, Capital Defense Division 1980-1981 Chief of Military Police for the National Army 1981- Retires from active duty with the rank of General 1981-1982 2nd Minister of Affairs of State 1982- Chief Representative of The South-North High Ranking Talks 1982-1982 The 1st Minister of the Ministry of Athletics 1982-1983 The 14th Minister of the Ministry of Home Affairs 1983-1986 Organizing Committee Chairman for the Seoul Olympics 1984-1985 The 28th President of the Korea Amateur Athletic Association 1984- Chairman, KOC(Korea Olympic Council?) 1984-1986 Organizing Committee Chairman, Seoul Asian Games 1985-1987 The 5th Representative Member for Democracy and Justice Party 1985-1987 The 12th assemblyman (Democracy and Justice Party, National Constituency) 1987-1987 Acting President, Democracy and Justice Party 1987-1990 The 2nd President of the Democracy and Justice Party 1988-1993 The 13th President of Korea 1990-1990 The first of three co-representatives for the Democratic Freedom Party 1990-1990 The 2nd representative of the Democratic Freedom Party -1993 Chairman, Democratic Peaceful Unification Advisory Council 1991- Honorary Member, Rotary Club 1990-1992 The 1st Chairman of the Democratic Freedom Party 1992-1992 Honorary Chairman, Democratic Freedom Party 1992-1992 Honorary Chairman, Democratic Freedom Party 1992- Leaves the Democratic Freedom Party 1993- Member of the National Veterans Advisory Council Major Publications Age for the Great Ordinary People, December, 1987 True Courage, HaegRim Publishing Co, Seoul, 1993 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Academic Background Period Name of School Major Remarks -1941 Jang Mok Primary School -1947 Gyeong Nam High School -1952 Seoul National University Philosophy Bachelor of Arts -1974 Dawson University Literature Honorary Doctorate -1993 American University International Politics Honorary Doctorate -1994 Waseta University Law Honorary Doctorate -1994 Russia Moscow state University Politics Honorary Doctorate -1995 Sorbonne University Philosophy Honorary Doctorate -1995 George Town University Humanities Honorary Doctorate -1995 New York University Law Honorary Doctorate -1995 University of Minnesota Law Honorary Doctorate Personal History Period career history 1951 Secretary to the Prime Minister, Mr. Jang, Taek Sang 1954-1958 The 3rd Assemblyman (Democratic Freedom Party, GeoJe-Gun) 1955 Director, Young Members of Democracy Party 1960-1961 The 5th Assemblyman (Democracy Party, Busan, West District) 1961 Floor Vice-leader for the New Democracy Party 1963 Spokesman, Democratic Freedom Party 1963-1967 The 6th Assemblyman (Democratic Freedom Party, Busan , West District) 1965-1967 Floor leader for the Peoples Party, Spokesman 1967-1969 Floor leader for the New Democracy Party 1967-1971 The 7th Assemblyman (New Democracy Party, Busan,West District) 1971-1972 The 8th Assemblyman (New Democracy Party, Busan. West District) 1971 The head of Korea Matters Research Institute 1973-1979 The 9th Assemblyman (New Democracy Party, Busan. East and West District) 1973 Vice President of the New Democracy Party, Vice President of Political Affairs Committee 1974-1976 The 5th President of the New Democracy Party, President for Direction Committee 1974- President of Political Affairs Committee, New Democracy Party 1976- Adviser, New Democracy Party 1979-1980 The 10th Assemblyman (New Democracy Party, Busan, East and West District) 1979- Chairman, New Democracy Party 1979 Provisional Disposition of Suspending Chairman Authority Operation, Dismissed from assemblyman list 1980- Restriction of political activities 1980-1981 Placed under house arrest 1981- Formation of Democratic Association of Mountaineers, Adviser 1982-1983 Placed under house arrest for the second time; Hunger strike ( for 23 days) 1985 Adviser, National Matters Institute 1986-1987 Permanent Adviser, New Democracy Party, Adviser for Democratic Constitution Acquisition, National Movement Organization 1987 Formation of Unified Democracy Party, Chairman 1987 Runs for the Office of President of Korea ( Unified Democracy Party) 1988-1992 The 13th Assemblyman ( Democratic Party) 1990 3Unites 3 Parties, Representative Chairman of Democratic Freedom Party 1992-1992 The 14th Assemblyman( Democratic Freedom Party, National Constituency) 1992 Runs for the Office of President 1992-1996 Chairman, Democratic Freedom Party 1992 Elected as the 14th President of Korea 1993-1998 The 14th President of Korea 1995-1997 Chairman, New Korea Party 1997 Honorary Chairman, New Korea Party 1993- Member of the National Veterans Advisory Council Major Publications No hill(need other word for this) That We Rely On The Way of Leaders Fourties Standard My True Self and My Country If You Wish to Lead a Meaningful Life New Korea in the Year 2000 (Dong Gwang Publishing Co.1993) Lifting Standards of Democracy Politics is Long, but Power is Short -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Academic Background Period Name of School Major Remarks 1943 Graduated from Mokpo Commercial High School, Jeollanam-do, Korea 1983-1984 Visiting Fellow at the Center for International Affairs, Harvard University, USA 1992 Honorary Doctorate in Political Science, the Diplomatic Academy of the Foreign Ministry of Russia, Moscow Personal History Period career history 1961 Elected to the fifth National Assembly but the election nullified following a military coup d'etat. Subsequently elected to the sixth, seventh, eighth, 13th and 14th National Assemblies. 1971 Challenged the incumbent president as an opposition candidate in the seventh presidential election and won 46 percent of the votes cast. 1972 Went into an exile in protest against the illegal constitutional revision called Yusin and organized anti-dictatorship movements in Japan and the United States. 1973 Abducted from a Tokyo hotel by agents of the Korean CIA but was released in Seoul under intense international pressure. Put under house arrest. 1976 Arrested for criticizing the Yusin Constitution through the March First Declaration for Democratization. 1979 Civil rights restored by an amnesty following the death of President Park Chung-hee. 1980 Arrested, again, by the Martial Law Command on charges of treason; sentenced to death by a court martial. 1981 Sentence commuted to life imprisonment and then to 20 years in prison. 1982 Went into exile a second time in the U.S. 1985 Returned home and intensified the nationwide pro-democracy movement. 1987 Civil and political rights fully restored following a nationwide democratization movement. Ran in the 13th presidential election as an opposition candidate and received 27 percent of the votes cast. 1992 Ran in the 14th presidential race, and received 34 percent of the votes cast. 1994 Established the Kim Dae-jung Peace Foundation for the Asia-Pacific Region (KPF) and elected as the chairman of the Board of Directors. 1997 Elected President in the 15th presidential election, winning 40.3 percent of the votes cast. Sworn in as the eighth president of the Republic of Korea on February 25, 1998, for a five-year term of office.. 2000 Visited the North Korean capital, Pyeongyang, for a summit meeting with the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il, and issued the South-North Joint Declaration. 2009 Passed Away Awards 1987 George Meany Human Rights Award of the AFL-CIO, USA 1999 The Philadelphia Liberty Medal of the City of Philadelphia, USA 2000 The Thorolf Rafto Human Rights Award, Norway 2000 The Nobel Peace Prize, Norway 2001 The World Statesman Award 2002 The Defender of Democracy Award Major Publications Building Peace and Democracy (Korean Independent Monitor, 1987), Mass Participatory Economy: Korea's Road to World Economic Power (University Press of America, Second Edition, 1996), Prison Writings (University of California at Berkeley Press, 1987), Three-Stage Approach to Korean Reunification (University of Southern California, 1997), and about 30 other books translated in English, Japanese, Chinese and Russian. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Academic Background Period Name of School Major Remarks 1946 Born in Gimhae, Gyeongsang-namdo 1959 Graduated from Daechang Primary School 1963 Graduated from Jinyoung Middle School 1966 Graduated from Busan Commercial High School Personal History Period career history 1968 Army draftee service 1971 Honorable discharge from military service 1973 Married to Kwon Yang-suk 1975 Passed the National Bar Examination 1977 Served as judge at the Daejeon District Court 1978 Practicing attorney 1981 Began career as a human rights lawyer after defending a student involved in the Burim Incident in Busan 1984 Served as director of the Research Center for Environmental Pollution 1985 Served as executive director of the Busan Citizens Committee for Democracy 1987 Served as chairman and director of the Busan Headquarters of Citizens' Movement for a Democratic Constitution (Also became one of the leaders of the 1987 June Democratization Struggles); Arrested in connection with the illegal strikes of the Daewoo Shipping Workers Union and his attorney license was suspended 1988 Elected to the 13th National Assembly from Busan's Eastern District 1989 Served as member of the Special Committee Investigating Political Corruptions during the Fifth Republic Served as member of the Labor Committee of the National Assembly 1990 Opposed the three-party merger between the ruling and two opposition parties; formed a splinter Democratic Party and served as director of planning and coordination of the newly-created party; Resigned National Assembly seat along with a group of sympathetic colleagues in protest against the ruling party's ramming of a broadcasting bill 1991 Led the campaign to unite the opposition forces (served as the leading negotiator of the talks to unite the opposition forces) 1992 Ran for the National Assembly seat in the Eastern District of Busan (unsuccessful) Led the election campaign for presidential candidate Kim Dae-jung 1993 Became the youngest member of the supreme council of the (United) Democratic Party 1995 Ran for mayor of Busan (unsuccessful) 1996 Ran for the National Assembly Seat in the Jongno District in Seoul (unsuccessful) 1997 Led the election campaign for Kim Dae-jung, presidential candidate of the National Congress for New Politics (NCNP); Served as an anchor of a SBS radio news program 1998 Elected to the 15th National Assembly in a by-election in Seoul's Jongno District (as an NCNP candidate); Served as an arbitrator in the labor-management dispute at the Hyundai Motor Company 1999 Gave up the chance to seek a National Assembly seat for a second term in the Jongno District in Seoul and chose to run for the National Assembly seat in Busan; Served as the head of the Committee for the Development of the Southeast Regions of the Millennium Democratic Party 2000 Ran for the National Assembly Seat in Busan (unsuccessful); Served as the minister of maritime affairs and fisheries (August 2000 - March 2001) 2001 Served as advisor and senior member of the Central Committee, the Millennium Democratic Party; Appeared in the commercial of the Daewoo Motors as the 154,451th supporter. 2002 Nominated as the presidential candidate of the Millennium Democratic Party in a national primary election system; Elected President of the Republic of Korea in the 16th Presidential election. 2009 Passed Away source:Office of the President