Kang Young-Hoon (, 30 May 1922 – 10 May 2016) was a South Korean diplomat and politician who served as the

prime minister of South Korea The prime minister of the Republic of Korea () is the deputy head of government and the second highest political office of South Korea. The prime minister is appointed by the president of the Republic of Korea, with the National Assembly's appro ...

from 1988 to 1990 under President

Chun Doo-hwan Chun Doo-hwan (; 18 January 1931 – 23 November 2021) was a South Korean politician, army general and military dictator who served as the fifth president of South Korea from 1980 to 1988. Prior to his accession to the presidency, he was the cou ...

. Beginning his career in the military, Kang entered politics through the diplomatic foreign ministry before being elected to the

National Assembly In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral legislature, the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or both houses of a bicameral legislature together. In the English language it generally means "an assembly composed of the repr ...

in 1987. He was appointed prime minister a year later in

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

Roh Tae-woo Roh Tae-woo (, ; 4 December 1932 – 26 October 2021) was a South Korean army general and politician who served as the sixth president of South Korea from 1988 to 1993. In 1987, he became the first president to be directly elected under the cur ...

's first cabinet reshuffle. His two-year tenure as prime minister was marked by his rapprochement towards North Korea, under Roh's

Nordpolitik Nordpolitik ( German for "Northern Policy") was the signature foreign policy of South Korean president Roh Tae-woo. The policy guided South Korean efforts to reach out to the traditional allies of North Korea, with the goal of normalized relatio ...

policy. After leaving government, Kang went on to become president of the South Korean National Red Cross from 1991 to 1997.

Early life and education

Kang was born in

Changsong County Changsŏng County is a Administrative divisions of North Korea, ''kun'', or county, in northern North Pyongan Province, North Phyŏngan province, North Korea. It is bordered by Pyoktong County, Pyŏktong to the east, Tongchang County, Tongchang an ...

Heianhoku Province , alternatively Heianhoku Province or North Heian Province, was a province of Korea under Japanese rule. Its capital was at Sinuiju, Shingishū (Sinuiju). The province consisted of modern-day North Pyongan Province, North Korea. Population ...

when Korea was under Japanese rule in 1922. He joined the National Defense Forces, a precursor to the

Republic of Korea Army The Republic of Korea Army (ROKA; ), also known as the ROK Army or South Korean Army, is the army of South Korea, responsible for ground-based warfare. It is the largest of the military branches of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces with 365,0 ...

, shortly after his graduation from the Kenkoku University towards the end of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. He served as a division commander during the

Korean War The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...

and a

military attaché A military attaché or defence attaché (DA),Defence Attachés
''Geneva C ...

in the Embassy of South Korea, Washington, D.C. in 1952 before becoming director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the

Ministry of National Defense A ministry of defence or defense (see spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is the part of a government responsible for matters of defence and military forces, found in states where the government is divide ...

in 1954. After a brief spell in the United States at the

Army Command and General Staff College The United States Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC or, obsolete, USACGSC) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, is a graduate school for United States Army and sister service officers, interagency representatives, and international military ...

, Kang eventually reached the rank of Chungjang (Lieutenant General) and ended his career as the superintendent of the Korean Military Academy in 1961, the same year as a bloodless military coup that he opposed.Susan Chira
Seoul Leader Shuffles Cabinet
''The New York Times'', 5 December 1988, Retrieved 31 March 2008. He was detained in

Seodaemun Prison Seodaemun Prison History Hall () is a museum and former prison in Seodaemun District, Seoul, South Korea. It was constructed beginning in 1907. The prison was opened on October 21, 1908, under the name Gyeongseong Gamok. During the early part of ...

for his role against the coup. On his release from prison, Kang headed back to America, gaining a M.A. in international relations (1966) and a Ph.D. in political science (1973) from the

University of Southern California The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in ...

.Steering Committee: Young-Hoon Kang
, USC Asia Conference 2004, Retrieved 31 March 2008. During his doctorate studies, he founded the Research Institute on Korean Affairs in

Silver Spring, Maryland Silver Spring is a census-designated place (CDP) in southeastern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, near Washington, D.C. Although officially Unincorporated area, unincorporated, it is an edge city with a population of 81,015 at the 2020 ...

Political career

Kang returned to South Korea in 1976, taking up the post of graduate school dean at the

Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (abbreviated as HUFS; ) is a Private university, private research university in Seoul, South Korea. The university currently teaches 45 foreign languages. In addition, it contains studies in humanities, law, ...

. His first foray into politics occurred in 1978 when he was appointed head of the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security, the training institute of the

Ministry of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the ministry of foreign affairs (abbreviated as MFA or MOFA) is the highest government department exclusively or primarily responsible for the state's foreign policy and relations, diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral r ...

. He then served as the ambassador to the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

and

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

(1981–84), and the

Vatican Vatican may refer to: Geography * Vatican City, an independent city-state surrounded by Rome, Italy * Vatican Hill, in Rome, namesake of Vatican City * Ager Vaticanus, an alluvial plain in Rome * Vatican, an unincorporated community in the ...

(1984–87). After the pro-democracy protests of 1987, Kang ran for election and was elected to the 13th

as a member of the ruling

Democratic Justice Party The Democratic Justice Party (DJP; ) was the ruling party of South Korea from 1981 to 1990. History Chun Doo-hwan had become the country's de facto leader after leading a military coup in December 1979, and was elected president in his own r ...

Prime minister

Kang was appointed prime minister by

, 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

. Kang was chosen, in part, because of his opposition to the

Park Chung Hee Park Chung Hee (; ; November14, 1917October26, 1979) was a South Korean politician and army officer who served as the third president of South Korea from 1962 after he seized power in the May 16 coup of 1961 until Assassination of Park Chung ...

-led coup of 1961. A moderate, Kang supported the democratic transition between the previous military regimes and civilian rule. 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.6 Korea Police Die In Raid On Campus
''Associated Press'', 3 May 1989, Retrieved 31 March 2008.David E. Sanger

''The New York Times'', 4 May 1989, Retrieved 31 March 2008. After 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.
''Associated Press'', 11 May 1989, Retrieved 31 March 2008.

Relations with North Korea

After months of negotiations, Kang took part in historic talks with his North Korean counterpart, Prime Minister

Yon Hyong-muk Yon Hyong-muk (; November 3, 1931 – October 22, 2005), also spelt Yong Hyong-muk, was a long-serving politician in North Korea and at the height of his career the most powerful person in that country outside the Kim family. He was Prime Mini ...

.Susan Chira
Koreas Agree to Hold High-Level Talks
''The New York Times'', 17 January 1989, Retrieved 31 March 2008.Steven R. Weisman

''The New York Times'', 20 July 1990, Retrieved 31 March 2008.When Mr Yon met Mr Kang
(paid archive), ''The Economist'', September 1990, Retrieved 31 March 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.Premiers of the Koreas Plan to Meet Tuesday
''Reuters'', 31 August 1990, Retrieved 31 March 2008. The first meeting occurred on 5–6 September 1990 in

Seoul Seoul, officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital city, capital and largest city of South Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's List of cities b ...

, permitting both sides to directly address their concerns on issues regarding disarmament, United States troop withdrawal, the release of political prisoners, visitation rights, and reunification; the tone remained amiable.Steven R. Weisman
North-South Korea Talks Begin Today
''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'', 5 September 1990, Retrieved 31 March 2008. The prime ministers met a second time on 17–18 October 1990, this time in

Pyongyang Pyongyang () is the Capital city, capital and largest city of North Korea, where it is sometimes labeled as the "Capital of the Revolution" (). Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River about upstream from its mouth on the Yellow Sea. Accordi ...

, culminating in a meeting with

Kim Il Sung Kim Il Sung (born Kim Song Ju; 15 April 1912 – 8 July 1994) was a North Korean politician and the founder of North Korea, which he led as its first Supreme Leader (North Korean title), supreme leader from North Korea#Founding, its establishm ...

. 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
Korea Talks Resume; Seoul Sees Reasons for Caution
''The New York Times'', 17 October 1990, Retrieved 31 March 2008.Steven R. Weisman

''The New York Times'', 18 October 1990, Retrieved 31 March 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 to 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 of mutual agreement on substantive issues, the two sides agreed to another round of talks in Seoul from 11 to 14 December. Even with the dismissive position of North Korean officials, soccer matches and folk-music-concert exchanges did take place in the subsequent months.Steven R. Weisman

''The New York Times'', 13 December 1990, Retrieved 31 March 2008. The third meeting in December failed to come to a compromise 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.

Post-political career

On 27 December 1990 Roh replaced Kang in another cabinet shuffle intended to improve his party's image before the following year's elections. Replaced by

Ro Jai-bong Ro Jai-bong (February 8, 1936 – April 23, 2024) was a South Korean politician who served as the prime minister of South Korea from December 1990 to May 1991. Biography Ro was born in Changwon, Korea, Empire of Japan on February 8, 1936. Ro g ...

, a chief aide, Kang had reportedly asked to retire from public life.Seoul Names a New Premier In a Shake-Up of the Cabinet
''Associated Press'', 27 December 1990, Retrieved 31 March 2008. Shortly after his replacement, he went on a diplomatic tour of the Middle East to canvass support for South Korea's membership to the United Nations. He went on to serve as president of the National Red Cross (1991–1997), an organization that played a major role in negotiations between South and North Korea, during a period where the north was suffering a dire famine. In 1995, he has created an honorary Knight Commander of the

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(KBE) by Queen

Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...

. Kang subsequently served as chairman of the

Sejong Institute Sejong Institute () is a non-profit, independent organization for public interest and a think tank in South Korea, dedicated to developing strategies and policies in areas of foreign and security affairs and Korean unification, regional issu ...

, and as chairman of the

United Nations Environment Programme The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is responsible for coordinating responses to environmental issues within the United Nations system. It was established by Maurice Strong, its first director, after the Declaration of the United Nati ...

(UNEP), Korea Committee. Kang died on 10 May 2016 at the age of 93 of natural causes at the

Seoul National University Hospital Seoul National University Hospital () is a teaching hospital located in Yeongeon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It is a general and teaching hospital of Seoul National University's College of Medicine. Description It consists of four bran ...

20 days shortly before his 94th birthday. Kang was survived by his wife and three children.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kang, Young-hoon 1922 births 2016 deaths University of Southern California alumni Honorary Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire Democratic Justice Party politicians Ambassadors of South Korea to the United Kingdom Ambassadors of South Korea to the Holy See Ambassadors of South Korea to Ireland Prime ministers of South Korea USC School of International Relations alumni Non-U.S. alumni of the Command and General Staff College South Korean generals Military attachés for South Korea Members of the National Assembly (South Korea) South Korean expatriates in the United States Burials at Seoul National Cemetery South Korean people of North Korean origin People from North Pyongan Province