Kim Dae-jung was born in Ha-ui Myun on the south coast of Korea on January 6, 1924. His hometown was a small village on a small island. Alone with his thoughts, a young Kim Dae-jung would stare at the sea, filling him with a sense of courage, imagination and national spirit for things to come.
Kim's family moved to Mokpo when he was in the fourth grade.
After graduating from Mokpo Commercial High School in 1943, Kim was hired by a marine transportation business. Since the nation's liberation from the colonialist Japanese, he expanded his business foundation and established his fame in the region.
 Then without notice, the young entrepreneur Kim Dae-jung jumped into the political arena. He saw for himself the corruption of the Syngman Rhee administration and found no reason to hesitate. However, he experienced losses and frustrations. He lost at the general election three times. Still, he ran for the 5th general election in 1961 and finally won a seat. The 5th General Election in 1961 However, he could not enter into political activities as a lawmaker due to the May 16 military coup.
The May 16 Military Coup in 1961 Everything was gloomy for him, but it was blessing that he met Lee Hee-ho.
Kim Dae-jung was elected as a lawmaker in Mokpo in 1963. His activities at the National Assembly were outstanding. He visited the National Assembly Library the most. He eventually emerged as a politician who suggested visions based on philosophy and his own convictions. In his 40s, he was elected to the presidential candidate of the New Democratic Party in 1970. Kim won 46 percent of the eligible votes in the President election next year, but lost to Park Chung-hee. Speech at Jangchungdan Park (April 18, 1971) Since then, he has followed a thorny path during his political career. Yushin Constitution (October 17, 1972)
President Park Chung-hee oppressed his political opponent Kim Dae-jung thoroughly.
Kim Dae-jung has faced five attempts on his life. In 1950, he was captured by communist soldiers, but barely escaped the prison alive. Assassination Attempt through Car Incident (May 24, 1971) He was involved in a serious car accident in 1971 while returning to Seoul after his campaign tour for the general election. Press Conference on the Kidnapping (October 26, 1973) In 1973, Korean Central Information Agency (KCIA) agents attempted to assassinate Kim at Grand Place Hotel in Tokyo, Japan. When their attempt failed, they tried drowning him at sea. Fortunately, intervention from the U.S. government prevented his murder. Kim was even sentenced to death in 1980 by the new military regime.
However, Kim Dae-jung never compromised with injustice. He fought directly against the dictatorship. Having decided to pursue the goals of democracy, human rights and peaceful unification, he has suffered a series of imprisonment, exile and house arrest. The shadow of death always followed him. But he never gave in. Even in difficult conditions, he emphasized the idea of forgiveness and reconciliation all the time with those who committed wrongdoings. When he was sentenced to death in a military court in 1980, he wrote to his son: "Those who are magnanimous and strong can forgive wrongdoing and give love to others."
 Kim Dae-jung, he has lived a life of the strong who can show forgiveness and love. He is an icon of democratization in Korea.
After being defeated in the 13th and 14th President election in a row, Kim Dae-jung finally won the 15th President election in 1997. That was the first peaceful regime change between the ruling and opposition parties since the establishment of the country. Inauguration of the 15th President of the Republic of Korea That was the victory of the democratic forces and the victory of the Korean people. Start of the Government of the People
President Kim Dae-jung worked with passion. He could afford to waste no time. Before he assumed the presidency, Korea was facing a financial crisis and was about to fall on the national default. As part of efforts to overcome the crisis, Kim led the management and labor to settlement and encouraged people to participate in the gold-gathering campaign. He also adopted policies aimed at reform in four major fields: finance, corporation, public and labor. As a result, Korea was able to repay all loans from the International Monetary Fund in August of 2001, three years earlier than expected.
 Despite the economic crisis, President Kim Dae-jung also laid the foundation for Korea to become a superpower in the Information Technology sector by promoting the informatization of the country.
The Government of the People implemented a series of reformist policies to restore the honor of those who were sacrificed during past authoritative regimes. It also focused its efforts on guaranteeing the rights of labor movements and enhancing women's rights by establishing the Ministry of Gender Equality. With an aim to support the alienated and underserved, the Government of the People adopted productive welfare policies centered on national basic livelihood security. This system has laid the groundwork for Korea to become a welfare country.
 President Kim Dae-jung also continued to implement the sunshine policy of engagement with North Korea. Hatred between the South and North started to be melting down and confidence began to be established. Finally, he held the historic inter-Korean summit in June of 2000 in 55 years of the division of the Korean Peninsula. In December of the same year, Kim Dae-jung was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his contribution to the promotion of democracy in Korea and East Asia, and the reconciliatory efforts between the two Koreas.
In 2003, Kim Dae-jung retired from the Office of President and returned to the people. The boy who used to stare at the sea in Ha-ui Myun now prays every day for the globe, which will be like the sea filled with justice, peace, and love.
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