This article needs to be updated. (March 2020) |
Kim Han-gil (Korean: 김한길; born 17 September 1953) is a South Korean politician, journalist and writer. He served as the 15th, 17th and 19th National Assembly member of the Republic of Korea and the Minister of Culture and Tourism.
Kim Han-gil | |
|---|---|
김한길 | |
.jpg) Kim campaigning in 2012 | |
| Member of the National Assembly | |
| In office 30 May 2012 – 29 May 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Gwon Taek-gi |
| Succeeded by | Chun Hye-sook |
| Constituency | Gwangjin A (Seoul) |
| In office 30 May 1996 – 29 May 2008 | |
| Succeeded by | Park Young-sun |
| Constituency | Guro B (2004–2008) (Seoul) |
| Chairman of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy | |
| In office 26 March 2014 – 31 July 2014 Serving with Ahn Cheol-soo | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Park Young-sun (Interim) |
| Chairman of the Democratic Party | |
| In office 4 May 2013 – 26 March 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Moon Hee-sang (Interim) |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Minister of Culture and Tourism | |
| In office 20 September 2000 – 18 September 2001 | |
| President | Kim Dae-jung |
| Preceded by | Park Jie-won |
| Succeeded by | Nam Gung-jin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 September 1952 Tokyo, Japan |
| Citizenship | South Korean |
| Political party | NCNP → MDP → Uri → DP → CRDP → UDP → DP → DUP → DP → NPAD → Minjoo Party of Korea (1996–2016) People's Party (2016~2018) → Bareunmirae (2018~2020) → Minsaeng Party (2020~present) |
| Spouse | Choi Myung-gil |
| Residence(s) | Gwangju, South Korea |
| Alma mater | Konkuk University |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Kim Han-gil | |
| Hangul | 김한길 |
|---|---|
| Revised Romanization | Gim Han-gil |
| McCune–Reischauer | Kim Han'gil |
Career
editHaving studied political science and journalism at Konkuk University, Kim worked as a journalist in the United States, writing for the Hankook Ilbo and the JoongAng Ilbo.[1] He became active in the National Congress for New Politics in 1996, and remained a member of the main liberal party under its various names until 2016.[1][2] He served as Minister of Culture and Tourism from 2000 to 2001, undertaking a highly publicized trip to North Korea on 10 March 2001, ostensibly to discuss tourism and culture arrangements.[3][4] Subsequent to his trip, Kim announced an agreement to form a joint North–South team to compete in the 2001 World Table Tennis Championships, but North Korea rejected the arrangement later in March, citing "incomplete agreement and preparation problems".[5]
Kim became a member of the National Assembly in 1996, but lost his seat in 2008. He returned to the Assembly in the 2012 elections, and became chairman of the Democratic Party in 2013.[6] When the Democratic Party merged with Ahn Cheol-soo's New Political Vision Party to form the New Politics Alliance for Democracy in March 2014, Kim became co-chairman of the new party alongside Ahn.[7] Kim and Ahn both resigned as co-chairmen three months later, however, following the party's disappointing performance in the 2014 by-elections, which had seen a conservative candidate win a constituency in South Jeolla Province for the first time in 26 years.[8]
On 3 January 2016, after Ahn had left the NPAD's successor, the Minjoo Party of Korea, Kim announced that he was leaving the Minjoo Party to join Ahn as a founding member of the new People's Party.[2] In March, in the lead-up to the 2016 legislative elections, Kim fell into dispute with Ahn over the need for an electoral alliance with the Minjoo Party. Kim resigned his position as co-chairman of the party's election campaign committee on March 11 over the dispute,[9] and with Ahn refusing to pursue such a pact and co-chairman Chun Jung-bae backing down from the prospect, on March 17 he withdrew his candidacy for the upcoming elections.[10] Kim nonetheless welcomed the results of the election, which were positive for the People's Party, stating that the day for a regime change was not far away.[11]
He did not take active part when the People's Party joined the Bareun Mirae Party as it merged with the Bareun Party.
Disease
editIn October 2017, Kim was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer with a survival rate of 10% and he disappeared from the public scene. He got one lunge removed and was unconscious for two weeks after the operation. [12][13]
Controversy
editKim is known for his "acerbic" remarks: in 2007 he labelled English teachers in Korea "white trash", and he criticized President Park Geun-hye for giving speeches in foreign languages overseas.[1]
Bibliography
editEssays
edit- (1984) American Day. Original: (미국일기)
- (2000) Hangil Kim’s Hope Diary. Original: (김한길의 희망일기)
- 2006) Don’t Be Away When I Open My Eyes. Original: (눈뜨면 없어라)
Novels
edit- (1981) Wind and Stuffed. Original: (바람과 박제)
- (1981) The Death of Seneca. Original: (세네카의 죽음)
- (1989) Camel's Don't Cry Alone. Original (낙타는 따로 울지 않는다)
- (1991) A Woman's Man. Original: (여자의 남자)
- (1995) I Saw Her Standing. Original: (거기 그녀가 서 있는 걸 보았네)
References
edit- ^ a b c Hoare, James E. (2015). "Kim Han-gil". Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Korea (3rd ed.). Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 243. ISBN 9780810870932.
- ^ a b "Former opposition leader leaves party". The Korea Times. 3 January 2016. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
- ^ "Why is the minister going to Pyongyang?". The Dong-A Ilbo. 8 March 2001. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
- ^ "Two Koreas announce fifth round of talks". CNN. 7 March 2001. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
- ^ Kirk, Don (29 March 2011). "North Korea Tells South: No Ping-Pong". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
- ^ "Kim Han-gil elected to head main opposition DP". Aju Business Daily. 5 May 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
- ^ Woo, Jaeyeon (27 March 2014). "Democratic Party Makeover!". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
- ^ "Co-chairmen quit amid election rubble". Korea JoongAng Daily. 1 August 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
- ^ "Kim Han-gil Resigns as Co-Chairman of People's Party Election Committee". KBS World Radio. 11 March 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
- ^ "Rep. Kim not to run in April elections". The Korea Times. 17 March 2016. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
- ^ "김한길 "정권교체의 날 머지 않았다"". Money Week (in Korean). 14 April 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ^ "그는 폐암 4기였다… 김한길의 특별한 1년". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). 2018-10-26. Retrieved 2021-09-02.
- ^ "'폐암 4기 극복' 김한길 "폐 한쪽 없다…2주간 의식불명"". The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). 2019-11-26. Retrieved 2021-09-02.