Chung Dong-young
Encyclopedia
Chung Dong-young is a politician
and was the United New Democratic Party
candidate for President of South Korea
in 2007.
From April 2004 until December 2005, Chung was the South Korea
n Minister of Unification
. Before holding that post, he served two terms in the National Assembly with the National Congress for New Politics and the Millennium Democratic Party, respectively; has twice been chairman of the Uri Party
; and was considered a strong contender to succeed Roh Moo-hyun
as president. Like Roh, Chung is also a Roman Catholic.
He has a bachelor's degree in Korean History from Seoul National University
(1979) and master's from the University of Wales
, and before entering politics, he was a journalist and anchor at the Politics Section of the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation
.
During his tenure as Unification Minister, Chung was a strong supporter of the Sunshine Policy
. He was criticized for his not taking a tougher stance on North Korea
, and rhetorical clashes with the United States
that helped weaken relations between the two countries. He was even accused of attempting to distract reporters from a meeting of activists for human rights in North Korea
. (Korean link)
In March 2007, while visiting the North Korean town of Kaesong
where South Korean companies are set up, he proposed that an inter-Korean summit be organized there. It never materialized.
On October 15, 2007, the United New Democratic Party announced that Chung won about 44 percent of the votes in the party primary, beating two other candidates, to become the party's candidate for the presidential elections that year
.
Chung, however, lost the elections to the opposition's Grand National Party
candidate Lee Myung-bak
by the widest margin since direct elections began in 1987. The loss was attributed primarily to Chung's unsuccessful campaign strategies and his link to President Roh, who had grown exceedingly unpopular for his failed economic policies and political blunderings. Chung was often criticized for being overly critical of his political opponents without any self-reflection on his own failings. Despite this, he stated that should turnout for the presidential elections be under 50% (knowing this was predicted and occurred in the last election) that the legitimacy of the result may be an issue. Voter turnout was 62.9%.
Earlier, Chung also criticized opposition leader Park Geun-hye
of the Grand National Party
for immediately campaigning during that party's primaries after her recovery from an attack by a man who slashed her face with a small knife. Later, he blamed the attack for the downfall of his party, even though polls showed the Uri Party would lose by a large margin anyhow. (Korean link)
The Uri Party suffered a major defeat in the elections in which the opposition Grand National Party
took 13 of the 16 provinces and major cities, while Chung's party only won in North Cholla province. Chung soon resigned as chairman of the Uri Party.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and was the United New Democratic Party
United New Democratic Party
The United New Democratic Party was a political party of South Korea. It was formed out of the Uri Party and its resulting splinter groups. Chung Dong-young was the UNDP candidate in the South Korean presidential election, 2007; he lost to Lee Myung-bak...
candidate for President of South Korea
President of South Korea
The President of the Republic of Korea is, according to the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, chief executive of the government, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and the head of state of the Republic of Korea...
in 2007.
From April 2004 until December 2005, Chung was the South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n Minister of Unification
Ministry of Unification
The Ministry of Unification is a branch of the South Korean government that is charged with working toward the reunification of Korea. It was first established in 1969 as the National Unification Board, under the rule of Park Chung-hee...
. Before holding that post, he served two terms in the National Assembly with the National Congress for New Politics and the Millennium Democratic Party, respectively; has twice been chairman of the Uri Party
Uri Party
The Yeollin Uri Party , generally abbreviated to Uri Party , was the briefly ruling political party in South Korea with a centrist political ideology...
; and was considered a strong contender to succeed Roh Moo-hyun
Roh Moo-hyun
Roh Moo-hyun GOM GCB was the 16th President of South Korea .Roh's pre-presidential political career was focused on human rights advocacy for student activists in South Korea. His electoral career later expanded to a focus on overcoming regionalism in South Korean politics, culminating in his...
as president. Like Roh, Chung is also a Roman Catholic.
He has a bachelor's degree in Korean History from Seoul National University
Seoul National University
Seoul National University , colloquially known in Korean as Seoul-dae , is a national research university in Seoul, Korea, ranked 24th in the world in publications in an analysis of data from the Science Citation Index, 7th in Asia and 42nd in the world by the 2011 QS World University Rankings...
(1979) and master's from the University of Wales
University of Wales
The University of Wales was a confederal university founded in 1893. It had accredited institutions throughout Wales, and formerly accredited courses in Britain and abroad, with over 100,000 students, but in October 2011, after a number of scandals, it withdrew all accreditation, and it was...
, and before entering politics, he was a journalist and anchor at the Politics Section of the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation
Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation
Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC (Hangul : 문화방송주식회사, Munhwa Bangsong Jushikoesa) is one of four major national South Korean television and radio networks. Munhwa is the Korean word for "culture". Its flagship terrestrial television...
.
During his tenure as Unification Minister, Chung was a strong supporter of the Sunshine Policy
Sunshine policy
The Sunshine Policy was the foreign policy of South Korea towards North Korea until Lee Myung-bak's election to presidency in 2008. Since its articulation in 1998 by South Korean President Kim Dae Jung, the policy resulted in greater political contact between the two nations and some historical...
. He was criticized for his not taking a tougher stance on North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
, and rhetorical clashes with the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that helped weaken relations between the two countries. He was even accused of attempting to distract reporters from a meeting of activists for human rights in North Korea
Human rights in North Korea
The human rights record of North Korea is extremely hard to fully assess due to the secretive and closed nature of the country. The North Korean government makes it very difficult for foreigners to enter the country and strictly monitors their activities when they do...
. (Korean link)
In March 2007, while visiting the North Korean town of Kaesong
Kaesong
Kaesŏng is a city in North Hwanghae Province, southern North Korea , a former Directly Governed City, and the capital of Korea during the Koryo Dynasty. The city is near Kaesŏng Industrial Region and it contains the remains of the Manwoldae palace. It was formally named Songdo while it was the...
where South Korean companies are set up, he proposed that an inter-Korean summit be organized there. It never materialized.
On October 15, 2007, the United New Democratic Party announced that Chung won about 44 percent of the votes in the party primary, beating two other candidates, to become the party's candidate for the presidential elections that year
South Korean presidential election, 2007
The 17th South Korean presidential election took place on 19 December 2007. The election was won by Lee Myung-bak of the Grand National Party, returning conservatives to the Blue House for the first time in ten years...
.
Chung, however, lost the elections to the opposition's Grand National Party
Grand National Party
The Grand National Party is a conservative political party in South Korea. Its Korean name, Hannara, has a double meaning as "Great National" and "Korean National." The GNP holds a majority of seats in the 18th Assembly, lasting from 2008 to 2012....
candidate Lee Myung-bak
Lee Myung-bak
Lee Myung-bak is the President of South Korea. Prior to his presidency, he was the CEO of Hyundai Engineering and Construction and the mayor of Seoul. He is married to Kim Yoon-ok and has three daughters and one son. His older brother is Lee Sang-deuk, a South Korean politician. He attends the...
by the widest margin since direct elections began in 1987. The loss was attributed primarily to Chung's unsuccessful campaign strategies and his link to President Roh, who had grown exceedingly unpopular for his failed economic policies and political blunderings. Chung was often criticized for being overly critical of his political opponents without any self-reflection on his own failings. Despite this, he stated that should turnout for the presidential elections be under 50% (knowing this was predicted and occurred in the last election) that the legitimacy of the result may be an issue. Voter turnout was 62.9%.
Earlier, Chung also criticized opposition leader Park Geun-hye
Park Geun-hye
Park Geun-hye is a South Korean politician. She is a member of the Korean National Assembly and was the head of the conservative Grand National Party. She is now in her fourth parliamentary term, having first been elected in 1998. Her father was Park Chung-hee, president of South Korea from 1963...
of the Grand National Party
Grand National Party
The Grand National Party is a conservative political party in South Korea. Its Korean name, Hannara, has a double meaning as "Great National" and "Korean National." The GNP holds a majority of seats in the 18th Assembly, lasting from 2008 to 2012....
for immediately campaigning during that party's primaries after her recovery from an attack by a man who slashed her face with a small knife. Later, he blamed the attack for the downfall of his party, even though polls showed the Uri Party would lose by a large margin anyhow. (Korean link)
The Uri Party suffered a major defeat in the elections in which the opposition Grand National Party
Grand National Party
The Grand National Party is a conservative political party in South Korea. Its Korean name, Hannara, has a double meaning as "Great National" and "Korean National." The GNP holds a majority of seats in the 18th Assembly, lasting from 2008 to 2012....
took 13 of the 16 provinces and major cities, while Chung's party only won in North Cholla province. Chung soon resigned as chairman of the Uri Party.
External links
Homepage- "Uri Party leader quits following shocking local election defeat", Yonhap News, May 1, 2006.
- "Front-runners trade barbs as leadership competition heats up", The Korea Herald, February 2, 2006.
- Interview with OhmyNews, December 6, 2004.
- "Unification a Personal Struggle for Chung Dong-young", The Korea Times, May 30, 2004.
- "Senior Citizens Demand Uri Party Chairman Quit Politics", The Korea Times, April 4, 2004.
- "New Chairman Chung Dong-young of the Uri Party", The Dong-A Ilbo, January 11, 2004.