Presidential Personality and Foreign Policy Decision-Making
The Sunshine Policy under Kim Dae-jung (1998-2003)
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 2878237 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Shin Yon Kim (University of Maryland, Baltimore County, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2023 |
| Volume | 96 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 493-530 |
| Publication date | 2023-09-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Pacific Affairs (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0030-851X • E-ISSN: 1715-3379 |
| Publisher | Pacific Affairs (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.5509/2023962493 |
| OpenAlex | W4386206358 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
| References cited | 8 |
This study uses leadership trait analysis to examine the link between personality and policy regarding South Korea's Sunshine Policy toward North Korea and demonstrates that Kim Dae-jung's personality characteristics largely accounted for this policy's content, process, and outcome. With an analytical focus on the decision-making system, this study finds that Kim's formal model was characterized by a control deemed inherently more indirect, subtle, and socialized than direct, personalized, or outright. Specifically, this type of control can be attributed to Kim's personality traits, such as a persistently high need for power and relationship focus, along with other idiosyncratic style variables, such as disinclination toward interpersonal conflict, a sense of efficacy, and a sophisticated cognitive quality. President Kim's resulting management style had the e ect of empowering members of his advisory group and invigorating the policy process. In addition, the president's trusted chief of staff, who served as a competent and thoughtful custodian manager with substantial authority, helped manage the system effectively and enhanced its stability. The study concludes that Kim Dae- jung's management style, incorporating socialized control over decision- making, combined with his advocate leadership style in implementation (marked by a relentless push for his rapprochement agenda and a tendency to challenge constraints indirectly), helped accelerate the overall policy process. This contributed to the improvement of inter-Korean relations during his presidency
Control (management) · Economics · Interpersonal communication · Leadership style · Management · Personality · Political science · Politics · Presidency · Presidential system · Public relations · Regulatory focus theory · Style (visual arts) · History · International Student and Expatriate Challenges · Job Satisfaction and Organizational Behavior · Law · Psychology · Public Administration · Social Psychology
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| Unique citing works | 3 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2023 - 2025 (3) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 2 |