"People Are Policy"... Awarded Korean Government Medal in 2002
Close Ties with Kim Dae-jung, Lee Jae-yong, and Others
Advisor to Trump Campaign and Architect of U.S. Conservative Policy
Edwin Feulner, the founder who built the Heritage Foundation into the leading think tank of the American conservative movement, has passed away at the age of 83.
The foundation announced Feulner's passing on the 18th (local time) in an official statement, saying, "He was a visionary, a builder, and a true patriot."
Born in Chicago in 1941, Feulner co-founded the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C. in 1973. From 1977, he served as the foundation's president for 37 years, acting as the "policy engine" of American conservatism.
Under his leadership, the Heritage Foundation grew from a small research institute into a core think tank that translated conservative values such as free market economics, limited government, and strong national defense into policy. The New York Times once described him as "the Parthenon of the city of conservatism."
During President Ronald Reagan's administration in the 1980s, the foundation led the golden age of American conservatism. In 1989, President Reagan awarded Feulner the Presidential Citizens Medal. In the 2016 presidential election, Feulner also participated as a policy advisor and member of the transition team for candidate Donald Trump. In 2023, the foundation unveiled a policy blueprint for the next conservative administration through "Project 2025," in preparation for Trump's possible return to office.
Feulner was also known as a leading Asia expert and a prominent supporter of Korea in the United States. He visited Korea more than 200 times and maintained close relationships with key figures in Korean politics and business. He was a close confidant of former President Kim Dae-jung, with whom he discussed security and economic issues between Korea and the United States. In 2002, he received the Order of Diplomatic Service Merit, Gwanghwa Medal, from the Korean government for his contributions to strengthening Korea-U.S. relations.
He also maintained long-standing friendships with Kim Seungyeon, chairman of Hanwha Group; Chung Mongjoon, chairman of the Asan Foundation; and Lee Jae-yong, chairman of Samsung Electronics. At the 2022 Asian Leadership Conference, he was seen embracing and greeting Chairman Lee Jae-yong.
Feulner earned an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a doctorate from the University of Edinburgh. He emphasized nurturing talent, saying, "People are policy," and advised conservatives to avoid both complacency and despair, noting, "In Washington, there are no permanent victories or defeats."
The foundation commemorated him, stating, "His principles and determination remain the foundation of the American conservative movement."
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