Sunshine Policy

Quick Facts: Who was Sunshine Policy?

Subject:

Sunshine Policy

Known for:

South Korea's foreign policy emphasizing cooperation and warmth over force with North Korea.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Reconciliation and Cooperation Policy Towards the North (Korean: 대북화해협력정책; Hanja: 對北和解協力政策), colloquially referred to as the Sunshine Policy (햇볕정책; 햇볕政策), is a theoretical basis adopted by the South Korean presidential administrations of Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in regarding South Korea's foreign policy towards North Korea. The policy was devised by president Kim Dae-jung in 1998. It resulted in greater political contact between the two states, leading to two inter-Korean summit meetings in Pyongyang (June 2000 and October 2007), as well as several high-profile business ventures, and brief meetings of family members separated by the Korean War. In 2000, Kim was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his implementation of the Sunshine Policy. Moon Jae-in's government began reconciling with North Korea following his election in 2017, thus beginning a revival of the Sunshine Policy.

Career & Major Achievements

Moon's effort to improve the inter-Korean relationship resulted in three inter-Korean summits in a year, including two summits held in Panmunjom (April and May 2018) that marked the first inter-Korean summits to be held outside of Pyongyang, and one in Pyongyang (September 2018). Moon's version of the Sunshine Policy became known as the "Moonshine Policy". The policy emerged largely in the context of the growing economic gap between the two Koreas: the South was strengthening itself and experiencing economic prosperity that had begun under President Park Chung Hee in the 1970s while the North was experiencing severe economic decline, consequently caused the 1990s North Korean famine and faced bankruptcy. The Sunshine Policy aimed at mitigating this gap in economic power and restoring lost communication between the two states. Furthermore, the background to South Korea's decision to engage North Korea through cooperation rather than maintaining a conservative stance in the past shows a historical shift in the South Korea's domestic politics as well.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

According to Son Key-young, a South Korean author, the Sunshine Policy emerged ultimately as evidence of the evolving South Korean national identity since the Cold War. The end of the Cold War "ushered in an era of unprecedented confusion in South Korea over whether to define North Korea as friend or foe". The policy is also known as The Operational Policy Towards the North (대북운영정책) and The Embracing Policy (포용정책). The term "Sunshine Policy" originates from a speech given by Kim Dae-jung after his election, in which he referenced The North Wind and the Sun, one of Aesop's fables. In the tale, the north wind and the sun debate which one is stronger.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1998: 1998 Milestone — The policy was devised by president Kim Dae-jung in 1998.
2. 2000: 2000 Milestone — It resulted in greater political contact between the two states, leading to two inter-Korean summit meetings in Pyongyang (June 2000 and October 2007), as well as several high-profile business ventures, and brief meetings of family members separated by the Korean War.
3. 2017: 2017 Milestone — Moon Jae-in's government began reconciling with North Korea following his election in 2017, thus beginning a revival of the Sunshine Policy.
4. 2018: 2018 Milestone — Moon's effort to improve the inter-Korean relationship resulted in three inter-Korean summits in a year, including two summits held in Panmunjom (April and May 2018) that marked the first inter-Korean summits to be held outside of Pyongyang, and one in Pyongyang (September 2018).

Notable Quotes by Sunshine Policy

“The meaning can be interpreted as persuasion triumphing over force.”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Sunshine Policy

True or False: “The Sunshine Policy was initially designed to achieve immediate regime change in North Korea through economic pressure.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The policy's goal was peaceful coexistence and mutual partnership, explicitly avoiding the message of absorption or regime change.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Sunshine Policy