Former South Korean President Kim Young-Sam Dies at 87

Kim died this morning from what is believed to be acute heart failure and a blood infection after being hospitalised Nov 19 for high fever, Oh Byung Hee, chief of Seoul National University Hospital, said at a televised briefing.

The former premier was a major player in South Korea’s rise to democracy.

“On behalf of the American people, we send our heartfelt condolences to the people of the Republic of Korea for the passing of former President Kim Young-sam”, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said in a statement.

As president, Mr Kim laid the foundation for a peaceful power transfer in a country that had been marked by military coups. Upon taking office, he had two predecessors indicted on treason and mutiny charges stemming from a 1979 coup.

Also in attendance was the opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy Chairman Moon Jae-in, who noted the late Kim’s achievements: “He led the democratic movement, established a civilian government, enabled economic justice through the real-name financial transaction system and started a new trend of property registration for public officials”.

According to AP, at one point the United States military drew up plans for a strike against a North Korean nuclear facility, but Kim opposed it, sure that it would lead to a full-scale conflict. Mr Kim lobbied against the idea. Kim Il Sung died just before the summit could take place.

During his presidency, he was credited with disbanding military faction, abolishing bank accounts held under aliases, and launching a sweeping anti-corruption crackdown. But he was also accused of mismanaging the economy during the Asian financial crisis of the 1990s.

Kim was born on Dec 20, 1927, on a southeastern island and became a lawmaker in 1954. During the Korean War, he anchored a Defense Ministry propaganda radio program.

Kim was elected in 1954 as the youngest member of the National Assembly.

She said 2015 will be remembered as an historic year as ASEAN members have collected their political strengths to create a community in East Asia for the first time.

But a few months later, he broke with the ruling regime over a constitutional issue and joined the opposition – a move that was followed by decades struggling against military rule.

The pro-democracy activist, who served as president from 1993 to 1998, was an outspoken opponent of the country’s previous military rulers.