Kang Young-Hoon

Infobox Prime Minister
name = Kang Young-Hoon
강영훈
honorific-suffix =
MA PhD


order = Prime Minister of South Korea
president = Roh Tae-woo
term_start = 05 December 1988
term_end = 27 December 1990
predecessor = Lee Hyun-jae [ [http://rulers.org/ruljk.html#korea Countries JK ] ]
successor = Ro Jai-bong
birth_date = 1922
party = UNDP

Kang Young-Hoon (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. [http://www.usc.edu/programs/asia/steering/kang.html Steering Committee: Young-Hoon Kang] , USC Asia Conference 2004, "Accessed March 31, 2008."]

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.Susan Chira, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE5DA113BF936A35751C1A96E948260 Seoul Leader Shuffles Cabinet] , "The New York Times", December 5, 1988, "Accessed March 31, 2008."] [http://www.usc.edu/programs/asia/steering/kang.html Steering Committee: Young-Hoon Kang] , USC Asia Conference 2004, "Accessed March 31, 2008."] 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. [http://www.usc.edu/programs/asia/steering/kang.html Steering Committee: Young-Hoon Kang] , USC Asia Conference 2004, "Accessed March 31, 2008."]

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.Susan Chira, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE5DA113BF936A35751C1A96E948260 Seoul Leader Shuffles Cabinet] , "The New York Times", December 5, 1988, "Accessed March 31, 2008."]

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. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DEEDA1339F930A35756C0A96F948260 6 KOREA POLICE DIE IN RAID ON CAMPUS] , "Associated Press", May 3, 1989, "Accessed March 31, 2008."] David E. Sanger, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE4DF153BF937A35756C0A96F948260 KOREA CHIEF URGES CALM AFTER CLASH] , "The New York Times", May 4, 1989, "Accessed March 31, 2008."] 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. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE4DD153BF932A25756C0A96F948260 South Korea Prime Minister Conditionally Offers to Quit] , "Associated Press", May 11, 1989, "Accessed March 31, 2008."]

After months of negotiations, Kang took part in historic with his North Korean counterpart, Prime Minister Yon Hyong-muk.Susan Chira, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE3D91E31F934A25752C0A96F948260 Koreas Agree to Hold High-Level Talks] , "The New York Times", January 17, 1989, "Accessed March 31, 2008."] Steven R. Weisman, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE0DE1031F933A15754C0A966958260 Seoul to Open Border With North Briefly] , "The New York Times", July 20, 1990, "Accessed March 31, 2008."] [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb5037/is_199009/ai_n18316059 When Mr Yon met Mr Kang] (paid archive), "The Economist", September 1990, "Accessed March 31, 1990."] 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. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE5D8163EF932A0575BC0A966958260 Premiers of the Koreas Plan to Meet Tuesday] , "Reuters", August 31, 1990, "Accessed March 31, 2008."] 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.Steven R. Weisman, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE3D91730F936A3575AC0A966958260 North-South Korea Talks Begin Today] , "The New York Times", September 5, 1990, "Accessed March 31, 2008."] 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.Steven R. Weisman, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CEFDE1530F934A25753C1A966958260 Korea Talks Resume; Seoul Sees Reasons for Caution] , "The New York Times", October 17, 1990, "Accessed March 31, 2008."] Steven R. Weisman, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE6DF163BF93BA25753C1A966958260 Koreas Revert to Form: Squabbling] , "The New York Times", October 18, 1990, "Accessed March 31, 2008."] 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.Steven R. Weisman, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE6DF163BF93BA25753C1A966958260 Koreas Revert to Form: Squabbling] , "The New York Times", October 18, 1990, "Accessed March 31, 2008."] Despite the dismissive position of North Korean officials, soccer matches and folk-music-concert exchanges did take place in the subsequent months.Steven R. Weisman, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE6DF163BF93BA25753C1A966958260 Koreas Revert to Form: Squabbling] , "The New York Times", October 18, 1990, "Accessed March 31, 2008."] Steven R. Weisman, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE4D61430F930A25751C1A966958260 KOREAS EXCHANGE BITTER POLEMICS] , "The New York Times", December 13, 1990, "Accessed March 31, 2008."] 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.Steven R. Weisman, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE4D61430F930A25751C1A966958260 KOREAS EXCHANGE BITTER POLEMICS] , "The New York Times", December 13, 1990, "Accessed March 31, 2008."]

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. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE7D7153BF934A15751C1A966958260 Seoul Names a New Premier In a Shake-Up of the Cabinet] , "Associated Press", December 27, 1990, "Accessed March 31, 2008."]

Kang subsequently served as chairman of the Sejong Institute foundation, and as Chairman of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Korea Committee. [http://www.usc.edu/programs/asia/steering/kang.html Steering Committee: Young-Hoon Kang] , USC Asia Conference 2004, "Accessed March 31, 2008."]

References