Korea Betrayed: Kim Dae Jung and Sunshine
“As Don Kirk details, Kim [Dae Jung's presidency was a tragic disappointment. . .Korea Betrayedhelps us better understand the manifold gifts and flaws of this extraordinary statesman.” —The Washington Times“The late Kim Dae Jung--the remarkable political dissident who rose to be President of South Korea and to win the Nobel Prize for Peace--is revered internationally, but his reputation in his native South Korea is much more controversial and contested. In this critical biography, Donald Kirk--a journalistic eminence who has been covering Korea for more than 30 years--helps us understand why this could be so. In his fascinating book, Kirk not only traces Kim Dae Jung's great political rise, but also details the moral and financial corruption that came to engulf, and permanently tarnish, the ‘DJ’ Presidency. Korea Betrayedwill be a welcome addition to the bookshelf of every student of modern Korea. Kirk's account of the failure of DJ's ‘Sunshine Policy’ toward North Korea, furthermore, should be ‘must reading’ for all American policymakers before they prepare to deal with Pyongyang.” —Nicholas Eberstadt, Henry Wendt Chair in Political Economy, The American Enterprise Institute“Donald Kirk'sKorea Betrayedis a comprehensive yet cogently written look at one of the most important figures in the past hundred years of Korean history. Brilliantly researched and equally well written, Kirk's newest book could not come at a more important time.  Kirk's book reminds American and South Korean policy makers why decisions made in the past are so relevant for foreign affairs today--as Washington, Pyongyang, and Seoul are at a crossroads in foreign relations that will affect the security of Northeast Asia for many years to come.” —Bruce E. Bechtol  Jr., Professor of International Relations, Marine Corps Command and Staff College and author ofRed Rogue: The Persistent Challenge of North Korea