"Trustpolitik" and the Peaceful Unification of the Korean Peninsula

Monday, March 10, 2014
4:15 PM - 5:30 PM
(Pacific)
Philippines Conference Room
Speaker: 
  • Kim Hwang-sik

Koret Distinguished Lecture Series: Lecture III

South Korean President Park Geun-hye recently made headlines by declaring that Korean unification would represent a huge bonanza for both the Korean people and the international community, rather than pose unacceptable risks and costs, as some have argued. The core goal and ultimate aim of her trustpolitik toward North Korea is in fact the unification of the divided Korean Peninsula. Unification will end a highly abnormal situation, resolve the nuclear issue, and provide a peace dividend not only to the Korean people but also to the United States and countries in the region. Trustpolitik aims to achieve unification by establishing sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula, inducing positive change in North Korea, and mobilizing international support for unification. Kim Hwang-sik, South Korea’s prime minister from 2010-2013, will lay out President Parks vision for a unified Korea and her plan to achieve it, and explain why the United States should strongly support the effort. 

Born in South Jeolla Province in 1948, Kim Hwang-sik studied law at Marburg University in Germany and graduated from Seoul National University in 1971. He passed the National Judicial Examination in 1972 and then served as judge in district and high courts, becoming president of the Kwangju district court and, from 2005 to 2008, a Supreme Court justice. He served as chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection from 2008 to 2010, and as President Lee Myung-baks prime minister from October 2010 to February 2013.