Former Unification Minister and NIS Director, a former army officer and diplomat who implemented the Sunshine Policy
| Life | 1934 |
| Era | 현대 |
| Clan | 나주 임씨 |
Im Dong-won (b. 1934) is a South Korean former army officer, diplomat and politician of the Naju Lim clan, born on 25 July 1934 in Wiwon County, North Pyeongan. A graduate of the Korea Military Academy (class 13) and Seoul National University philosophy, with a master's from its graduate school of public administration, he retired as a major general.
He served as ambassador to Nigeria (1981) and Australia (1984) and as vice minister of National Unification in 1992. Under Kim Dae-jung he was senior secretary for foreign affairs and security, the 25th Unification Minister, the 24th NIS director, special adviser to the president and the 27th Unification Minister.
He is introduced as the planner and implementer of Kim Dae-jung's Sunshine Policy and is evaluated in connection with the inter-Korean summit and implementation of the June 15 declaration.
A military academy class-13 graduate who retired as major general, he was ambassador to Nigeria in 1981 and to Australia in 1984.
In 1998 he was senior secretary for foreign affairs and security, in 1999 Unification Minister and NIS director, then presidential adviser, and in 2001 Unification Minister again. The end date of his term is written as 3 or 6 September in different places.
He is seen as the working-level author of the Sunshine Policy, and views are divided.
Living person.