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Kim Han-gil | |
|---|---|
김한길 | |
.jpg) Kim campaigning in 2012 | |
| Member of theNational Assembly | |
| In office 30 May 2012 – 29 May 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Gwon Taek-gi |
| Succeeded by | Chun Hye-sook |
| Constituency | Gwangjin A (Seoul) |
| In office 30 May 1996 – 29 May 2008 | |
| Succeeded by | Park Young-sun |
| Constituency | Guro B (2004–2008) (Seoul) |
| Chairman of theNew Politics Alliance for Democracy | |
| In office 26 March 2014 – 31 July 2014 Serving with Ahn Cheol-soo | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Park Young-sun(Interim) |
| Chairman of theDemocratic Party | |
| In office 4 May 2013 – 26 March 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Moon Hee-sang(Interim) |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Minister of Culture and Tourism | |
| In office 20 September 2000 – 18 September 2001 | |
| President | Kim Dae-jung |
| Preceded by | Park Jie-won |
| Succeeded by | Nam Gung-jin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1952-09-17)17 September 1952 (age 73) |
| Political party |
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| Spouse | Choi Myung-gil |
| Residence(s) | Gwangju, South Korea |
| Alma mater | Konkuk University |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 김한길 |
| RR | Gim Hangil |
| MR | Kim Han'gil |
Kim Han-gil (Korean: 김한길; born 17 September 1953) is a South Korean politician, journalist, and writer. He served as a member of the 15th, 17th and 19thNational Assembly and as the Minister of Culture and Tourism.
Having studied political science and journalism atKonkuk University, Kim worked as a journalist in the United States, writing for theHankook Ilbo and theJoongAng Ilbo.[1] He became active in theNational Congress for New Politics in 1996, and remained a member of the main liberal party under its various names until 2016.[1][2] He served asMinister of Culture and Tourism from 2000 to 2001, undertaking a highly publicized trip to North Korea on 10 March 2001, ostensibly to discuss tourism and culture arrangements.[3][4] Subsequent to his trip, Kim announced an agreement to form a joint North–South team to compete in the2001 World Table Tennis Championships, but North Korea rejected the arrangement later in March, citing "incomplete agreement and preparation problems".[5]
Kim became a member of the National Assembly in 1996, but lost his seat in 2008. He returned to the Assembly in the2012 elections, and became chairman of theDemocratic Party in 2013.[6] When the Democratic Party merged withAhn Cheol-soo's New Political Vision Party to form the New Politics Alliance for Democracy in March 2014, Kim became co-chairman of the new party alongside Ahn.[7] Kim and Ahn both resigned as co-chairmen three months later, however, following the party's disappointing performance in the2014 by-elections, which had seen a conservative candidate win a constituency inSouth Jeolla Province for the first time in 26 years.[8]
On 3 January 2016, after Ahn had left the NPAD's successor, the Minjoo Party of Korea, Kim announced that he was leaving the Minjoo Party to join Ahn as a founding member of the new People's Party.[2] In March, in the lead-up to the2016 legislative elections, Kim fell into dispute with Ahn over the need for an electoral alliance with the Minjoo Party. Kim resigned his position as co-chairman of the party's election campaign committee on March 11 over the dispute,[9] and with Ahn refusing to pursue such a pact and co-chairmanChun Jung-bae backing down from the prospect, on March 17 he withdrew his candidacy for the upcoming elections.[10] Kim nonetheless welcomed the results of the election, which were positive for the People's Party, stating that the day for aregime change was not far away.[11]
He did not take active part when the People's Party joined theBareun Mirae Party as it merged with theBareun Party.
Kim is known for his "acerbic" remarks: in 2007 he labelled English teachers in Korea "white trash", and he criticized PresidentPark Geun-hye for giving speeches in foreign languages overseas.[1]
In October 2017, Kim was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer with a survival rate of 10% and he disappeared from the public scene. He got one lung removed and was unconscious for two weeks after the operation.[12][13]
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