THE SUNSHINE POLICY: THE BACKGROUND
Th e S u n s h i n e P o l i c y, f o r m u l a t e d u n d e r K i m D a e - j u n g’s
administration was influenced by a number of variables. First, it
reflected the impact of global change on the Korean peninsula. After
the collapse of Eastern Europe (1989) and the Soviet Communist
Party (1990), a new post-Cold War era unfolded in the international
community. Despite the opening and reform of the entire communist
bloc, the Cold War remained intact on the Korean peninsula. Seoul
realized that maintaining a hostile stance would be disadvantageous
for both Koreas. In response, Kim Dae-jung pursued two goals: to
establish a peaceful coexistence and to ease tensions between the two
states.
The second condition has to do wi th Nor th Korea’s internal
situation. Despite the continued downward spi ral of the North
Korean economy and the food shortage, there is no sign of imminent
collapse of the North Korean regime. With enormous military power,
North Korea poses a tangible threat to South Korean security. And it
i s believed that the Nor th would go to any length to sustain its system, even the launch of suicide attacks. Accordingly, South Korea
adopted the Sunshine Policy to maintain peace
T h e t h i rd c o n d i t i o n i s S o u t h Ko re a’s c o n t i n u e d b u i l d u p o f
national strength. With political democracy taking root, South Korea
has not only secured the legitimacy of its political system, but it also
has the uppe r hand e conomi cal ly, wi th the South Korean t rade
volume totaling 169 times that of North Korea, the nominal gross
n a t i o n a l i n c o m e ( G N I ) 1 6 t i m e s g r e a t e r t h a n i t s N o r t h e r n
count e rpar t, and 13 t ime s highe r in GNI pe r capi ta. In t e rms of
military power, South Korea maintains a sufficient deterrent with the
South Korea-U.S. alliance structure.
Fourth, the North Korean economy must be revived in order to
s a v e t h e No r t h Ko r e a n p e o p l e f rom s t a r v a t i o n a n d t o e a s e t h e
economic burden that will ensue during the unification process. In
other words, the recovery of North Korean economy is not only a
humanitarian matter, it is necessary for unification
Finally, the Sunshine Policy is basically a continuation of the
uni f i cat ion pol i cy of previous admini s t rat ions . As the fol lowing
c h ro n o l o g y s h ows, t h e S o u t h Ko re a n g o v e r nme n t h a s p u r s u e d
various policies for reconciliation and cooperation over the years: the
July 4 South and North Joint Communiqué (1972), the Diplomatic
P o l i c y P ro c l ama t i o n f o r P e a c e f u l Un i f i c a t i o n ( J u n e 2 3, 1 9 7 3 ), a
proposal to implement 20 pilot projects between South and North
Korea (1982), the July 7 Special Presidential Declaration on National
Self-Esteem, Unification, and Prosperity (1988), the announcement of
K o r e a n N a t i o n a l C o m m u n i t y U n i f i c a t i o n F o r m u l a ( 1 9 8 9 ) t h e
conclusion of inter-Korean agreement and the Joint Declaration of
the Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula (1992), the agreement
to hold an inter-Korean summit (1994), and the Unification Formula
for the Creation of a Korean National Community (1994).primary goal, the current administration’s Sunshine Policy adopted
the following principles: no absorption of North Korea in the process
of unification, intolerance of any armed provocation destructive to
peace, the principle of reciprocity, and separation of the economy
from politics
The pr inc ipl e of no a b s o rpt i on o f No r th Ko re a in the process of
unification clearly states that South Korea has no intention to absorb
North Korea and that it will not seek to provoke the North Korean
regime’s collapse. Instead, South Korea will pursue a policy to bring
about an int e r-Korean al l ianc e that will gradual ly develop into
peaceful unification.
S e c o n d, t h e p r i n c i p l e o f i n t o l e r a n c e o f a n y a rme d p ro v o c a t i o n
destructive to peace demonstrates South Korea’s firm commitment to
preserve national security through prevention of war, and clearly
states that North Korea should initiate any armed provocation, South
Korea would take necessary measures against it. In this way, the
South is pressing North Korea to abandon its South Korea strategy,
which is based on armed provocation.
Third, the principle of reciprocity is a declaration that instead of
pursuing unilateral interest, the two Koreas should understand and
respect each other’s positions and promote mutual benefits. The
concept of reciprocity does not refer to equivalence in commercial
transactions. Rather, it states that North Korea should show a certain
level of corresponding efforts to South Korea’s aid to the North, and
other efforts to improve inter-Korean relations.
Lastly, the principle of separation of the economy from politics places
emphasizes that economic exchanges and cooperation should be
pursued autonomously by businesses according to the principles of
t h e m a r k e t e c o n o m y a n d s h o u l d n o t b e a f f e c t e d b y p o l i t i c a l
c i r c u m s t a n c e s . A d h e r i n g t o t h a t p r i n c i p l e, t h e S o u t h K o r e a n
g o v e r nme n t r e l a x e d r e g u l a t i o n s a n d s imp l i f i e d p r o c e d u r e s f o r
e conomi c t ransac t ions wi th Nor th Korea by pr ivat e enterprises
while at the same time, creating conditions to promote economic
exchange and cooperation.
