Kim Dae-jung as a Heresthetician: How did he Transform South Korean Politics with Inter-Korean Dialogue?

This paper examines how inter-Korean dialogue under the Sunshine Policy of Kim Dae-jung transformed South Korean politics by employing the concept of heresthetics coined by William Riker. It argues that Kim Dae-jung as a heresthetician disrupted South Korean politics based on stable regional cleavage by adding a new dimension of policy toward the North. Specifically, Kim Dae-jung’s sunshine policy not only garnered electoral support in the 2000 general election but also posed a dilemma for his coalition partner, Kim Jong-pil. It was a dilemma in the sense that Kim Jong-pil had little choice but to defect or maintain the coalition; however, any choice would lead him and his party to eventual demise in a political game structured by Kim Dae-jung. Moreover, his heresthetics had lasting effects on Korean politics such as the creation of a larger coalition that supports cooperation with North Korea. This paper suggests the need for further research to rediscover Korean presidents’ political strategies and their long-term effects from a variety of perspectives including Riker’s heresthetics.