Political think tank praises Kissinger as ‘friend of Korea’

Industry

Published: 30 Nov. 2023, 18:47

Political think tank praises Kissinger as ‘friend of Korea’

Late Dr. Henry Kissinger, left, who served as the U.S. secretary of state, met with Chung Mong-joon, founder and honorary chairman of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, in New York in January, 2023. [HD HYUNDAI]

The Asan Institute for Policy Studies, a political think tank, published a tribute to Dr. Henry Alfred Kissinger on Thursday on the former U.S. Secretary of State’s passing.

“Today, we mourn the passing of Dr. Henry A. Kissinger, a man who made a great contribution to peace and stability throughout the world,” read the release. “Dr. Kissinger was a life-long friend of the people of Korea and we shall always remember him and his wise counsel.”

"Different evaluations can be drawn about Dr. Kissinger's efforts for international order and peace,” the institute said.

“However, Dr. Kissinger's passion and insight for maintaining world order is something that future generations should emulate and follow.”

Kissinger’s association with Korea dates back to over 70 years ago, when he visited the country in 1950 during his time as a graduate student at Harvard to analyze the outbreak of the Korean War (1950-1953).

In 2010, Kissinger again paid a visit to Korea for the 1st Asan Memorial Lecture themed “Nuclear North Korea and Northeast Asia,” and met with the institute’s founder and honorary chairman Chung Mong-joon, who is also the largest shareholder of HD Hyundai.

Most recently, Chung and Kissinger met in January this year in New York to discuss the international affairs surrounding Korea at that time.

Kissinger served as the National Security Adviser to President Richard Nixon and as Secretary of State during the Gerald R. Ford administration.

BY SHIN HA-NEE [shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr]