Kim Dae-jung (Korean: 김대중; Hanja: 金大中; Korean pronunciation: [kim.dɛ.dʑuŋ]; 6 January 1924 – 18 August 2009), was a South Korean politician and statesman who served as President of South Korea from 1998 to 2003. He was a 2000 Nobel Peace Prize recipient for his work for democracy and human rights in South Korea and in East Asia in general, and for peace and reconciliation with North Korea and Japan. He had been nominated every year since 1987. He was sometimes referred to as "the Nelson Mandela of Asia". Kim was the first opposition candidate to win the presidency, ending 50 years of conservative rule.
