Quick Facts
Biography
Kim Jong-pil (Korean pronunciation: [kimdʑoŋpʰil]; born January 7, 1926) is a South Korean politician and founder of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (the KCIA, now the National Intelligence Service), who served as Prime Minister twice, from 1971–1975 and from 1998–2000.
Life
Early life
Kim Jong-pil was born in Buyeo County, Chungcheongnam-do, and graduated from the Korea Military Academy in 1949 (KMA class No. 8). He participated in the May 16 coup led by Major General Park Chung-hee in 1961 and served in several high-profile offices, including Chairman of the ruling Democratic Republican Party during Park's presidency of eighteen years.
Political activity
In 1963, he founded the Democratic Republican Party (민주공화당). In 1971 he first served as Prime Minister of South Korea 1971 to 1975.
Scouting
He served as Korea Scout Association President until June 6, 1969. In 1967 he received the highest distinction of the Scout Association of Japan, the Golden Pheasant Award.
Ancestry
In a 2001 sentimental letter written to Bhimlendra Mohan Pratap Mishra, a king of erstwhile Ayodhya state with a history of 200 years old, Kim expressed of his March 2001 visit to India "remaining very meaningful to me" as it "fulfilled his desire to visit Ayodhya, a princess of which became the queen of King Suro of Gaya and Heo Hwang-ok. I am the 72nd generation descendant of the King Kim Suro of the Karak Kingdom."
Kim was amongst more than a hundred historians and government representatives, including the North Korean ambassador to India, and an 18-member delegation from South Korea – led by former Gimhae Mayor Song Eun-Bok – composed of prominent industrialists who inaugurated a memorial to their royal ancestor, Queen Hwang Huh on the west bank of the River Sarayu. The monument is built using a three-metre high stone weighing 7,500 kg, specially shipped from South Korea.
Family
On 15 February 1951, Kim married Park Young-ok (30 October 1929 – 21 February 2015), who died on 21 February 2015 from Urethral cancer, aged 85.
Retirement
In 2004, he announced his retirement from politics after his bid for a tenth term in the National Assembly failed and his party, the United Liberal Democrats, was unable to gain a sizable number of seats in the 2004 parliamentary election. The party later merged into Grand National Party.