Evaluation of a 'Rational Conservative' Emphasizing Dialogue with the North
Ryu Gil-jae, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies and the first Minister of Unification under the Park Geun-hye administration, passed away on the 15th after battling cancer. He was 61 years old.
Ryu Gil-jae, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies and the first Minister of Unification under the Park Geun-hye administration, passed away on the 15th after battling cancer. He was 61 years old.
Within the Park Geun-hye government, which leaned toward theories of North Korea's collapse and absorption unification, he was regarded as a rational conservative who emphasized the necessity of dialogue and cooperation with North Korea.
During his two years leading the Ministry of Unification from March 2013, he was unable to achieve significant results as North Korea did not respond positively.
He consistently proposed to former President Park the need for unofficial contacts with North Korea, including dispatching special envoys, but these were reportedly never realized. Around the time of his resignation, he expressed feelings of helplessness to those around him, saying he felt there was "nothing he could do."
The "Unification Jackpot Theory" of the Park Geun-hye government was a slogan decided without even Ryu, the former minister, knowing about it. In a November 9, 2017 interview with CBS Radio, he said, "I also heard the phrase 'Unification is a jackpot' for the first time at a press conference held by President Park."
When asked if he found it strange that the unification catchphrase was announced without consulting the minister of the relevant department, he answered, "Yes."
After stepping down from his ministerial position in March 2015, he returned to academia as a professor at the University of North Korean Studies. He also served as president of the North Korean Studies Association, the largest North Korea research group in South Korea.
In November 2016, regarding the "Choi Soon-sil state affairs manipulation" scandal, he posted a "national reflection" message on his Facebook, stating, "I hope that no other unfortunate cabinet member like me will ever appear in this land again. I sincerely apologize."
He was the first cabinet member of the Park Geun-hye government to apologize for the Choi Soon-sil scandal.
In June of this year, he criticized the Moon Jae-in administration's North Korea policy, saying, "Moon Jae-in's daydream is ruining the North Korea policy."
On his blog, he wrote, "North Korea's criticism of South Korean leaflets has escalated into threats to sever inter-Korean relations and treat the South as an adversary, and the Blue House and government are floundering," adding, "Moon Jae-in's North Korea policy has completely collapsed."
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