Kang Young-Hoon
Encyclopedia
Kang Young-Hoon KBE (born May 30, 1922) was the Prime Minister
of South Korea
from 5 December 1988 until 27 December 1990, and acting Prime Minister until 16 December 1988.
Kang holds a Ph.D. in Political Science (1973) and a M.A. in International Relations (1966) from the University of Southern California
.
Kang served in the military
, reaching the rank of Chungjang (Lieutenant General
) and ending his career as the Superintendent of the Korean Military Academy; he left the military in 1961, the same year as a bloodless military coup
that he opposed. As a civilian, he worked for the Republic of Korea in several capacities: He was a member of the 13th National Assembly
. He served as President of the National Red Cross; an organization that played a major role in negotiations between South and North Korea
. He served as the Ambassador to the United Kingdom
, the Vatican
, and Ireland
; and he was Chancellor of the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security.
Kang was appointed Prime Minister by President
Roh Tae-woo
, who at the same time replaced 19 of 23 Cabinet members in a major shake up meant to separate himself from his disgraced predecessor, President Chun Doo-hwan
. Kang was chosen, in part, because of his opposition to the Park Chung-hee
-led coup of 1961.
During his tenure, political violence continued at universities throughout South Korea as groups labeled by the regime as "leftist radicals" advocated for the overthrow of the Government. During a rise in violence during the Spring of 1989, Kang offered to follow opposition party demands to resign if he were held responsible for mishandling state affairs surrounding the violence.
After months of negotiations, Kang took part in historic with his North Korean counterpart, Prime Minister Yon Hyong-muk
. The highest-level contact between the two Governments since 1945, the exchange of visits by respective Prime Ministers were aimed at reducing tension on the peninsula and an eventual reunification. The first meeting occurred on September 5-6, 1990 in Seoul
, permitting both sides to directly address their concerns on issues regarding disarmament, United States troop withdrawal, release of political prisoners, visitation rights and reunification; the tone remained amiable. The Prime Ministers met a second time on October 17-18, 1990, this time in Pyongyang
. After initially maintaining the positive tone of the earlier meeting, tensions rose as both sides dropped their earlier civil tone and accused each other of bad faith. Both sides became suspicious that the other was using the talks to further its political agenda; Kang accused the North Koreans of "doing things that foment division and further put off peace"" as well as using the talks interfere with South Korean internal affairs while North Korean representatives criticized South Korea's suggestions to increase trade, cultural and humanitarian exchanges. Despite a lack mutual agreement on substantive issues, the two sides agreed to another round of talks in Seoul from December 11-14. Despite the dismissive position of North Korean officials, soccer matches and folk-music-concert exchanges did take place in the subsequent months. The third meeting in December failed to narrow their differences over a proposed "declaration of non-aggression," which had been on the table since September; however both sides agreed yet again to continue talks the following February.
On December 27, 1990, President Roh replaced Kang in another cabinet shuffle intended to improve his party's image before the following year's elections, he was replaced by Ro Jai-bong, a chief aide; Kang had reportedly asked to retire from public life.
Kang subsequently served as chairman of the Sejong Institute foundation, and as Chairman of the United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP), Korea Committee.
In 1995, he was created an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
(KBE) by Queen Elizabeth II.
Prime Minister of South Korea
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea is appointed by the President with the National Assembly's approval. Unlike prime ministers in the parliamentary system, the Prime Minister of South Korea is not required to be a member of parliament....
of 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...
from 5 December 1988 until 27 December 1990, and acting Prime Minister until 16 December 1988.
Kang holds a Ph.D. in Political Science (1973) and a M.A. in International Relations (1966) from the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
.
Kang served in the military
Military of South Korea
The Republic of Korea Armed Forces or ROK Armed Forces, is the armed forces of the Republic of Korea...
, reaching the rank of Chungjang (Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
) and ending his career as the Superintendent of the Korean Military Academy; he left the military in 1961, the same year as a bloodless military coup
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
that he opposed. As a civilian, he worked for the Republic of Korea in several capacities: He was a member of the 13th National Assembly
National Assembly of South Korea
The National Assembly of the Republic of Korea is a 299-member unicameral legislature. The latest general elections were held on April 9, 2008. Single-member constituencies comprise 245 of the National Assembly's seats, while the remaining 54 are allocated by proportional representation...
. He served as President of the National Red Cross; an organization that played a major role in negotiations between South and 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...
. He served as the Ambassador to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, the Vatican
Vatican City
Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
, and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
; and he was Chancellor of the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security.
Kang was appointed Prime Minister by President
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...
Roh Tae-woo
Roh Tae-woo
Roh Tae-woo , is a former ROK Army general and politician. He was the 13th president of South Korea .Roh befriended Chun Doo-hwan while in high school in Daegu. In his younger life, Roh was a keen rugby union player....
, who at the same time replaced 19 of 23 Cabinet members in a major shake up meant to separate himself from his disgraced predecessor, President Chun Doo-hwan
Chun Doo-hwan
Chun Doo-hwan was a ROK Army general and the President of South Korea from 1980 to 1988. Chun was sentenced to death in 1996 for his heavy-handed response to the Gwangju Democratization Movement, but later pardoned by President Kim Young-sam with the advice of then President-elect Kim Dae-jung,...
. Kang was chosen, in part, because of his opposition to the Park Chung-hee
Park Chung-hee
Park Chung-hee was a Republic of Korea Army general and the leader of South Korea from 1961 to 1979. He seized power in a military coup and ruled until his assassination in 1979. He has been credited with the industrialization of the Republic of Korea through export-led growth...
-led coup of 1961.
During his tenure, political violence continued at universities throughout South Korea as groups labeled by the regime as "leftist radicals" advocated for the overthrow of the Government. During a rise in violence during the Spring of 1989, Kang offered to follow opposition party demands to resign if he were held responsible for mishandling state affairs surrounding the violence.
After months of negotiations, Kang took part in historic with his North Korean counterpart, Prime Minister Yon Hyong-muk
Yon Hyong-muk
Yon Hyong-muk, also spelt as Yong Hyong-muk was a longserving politician in North Korea and at the height of his career the most powerful person in that country outside the Kim family. He was premier of North Korea from 1989 until 1992 .He was born in Kyongwon County and had a strong...
. The highest-level contact between the two Governments since 1945, the exchange of visits by respective Prime Ministers were aimed at reducing tension on the peninsula and an eventual reunification. The first meeting occurred on September 5-6, 1990 in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, permitting both sides to directly address their concerns on issues regarding disarmament, United States troop withdrawal, release of political prisoners, visitation rights and reunification; the tone remained amiable. The Prime Ministers met a second time on October 17-18, 1990, this time in Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
. After initially maintaining the positive tone of the earlier meeting, tensions rose as both sides dropped their earlier civil tone and accused each other of bad faith. Both sides became suspicious that the other was using the talks to further its political agenda; Kang accused the North Koreans of "doing things that foment division and further put off peace"" as well as using the talks interfere with South Korean internal affairs while North Korean representatives criticized South Korea's suggestions to increase trade, cultural and humanitarian exchanges. Despite a lack mutual agreement on substantive issues, the two sides agreed to another round of talks in Seoul from December 11-14. Despite the dismissive position of North Korean officials, soccer matches and folk-music-concert exchanges did take place in the subsequent months. The third meeting in December failed to narrow their differences over a proposed "declaration of non-aggression," which had been on the table since September; however both sides agreed yet again to continue talks the following February.
On December 27, 1990, President Roh replaced Kang in another cabinet shuffle intended to improve his party's image before the following year's elections, he was replaced by Ro Jai-bong, a chief aide; Kang had reportedly asked to retire from public life.
Kang subsequently served as chairman of the Sejong Institute foundation, and as Chairman of the United Nations Environment Programme
United Nations Environment Programme
The United Nations Environment Programme coordinates United Nations environmental activities, assisting developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies and practices. It was founded as a result of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in June 1972 and has its...
(UNEP), Korea Committee.
In 1995, he was created an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(KBE) by Queen Elizabeth II.