THE ANALYSIS OF PRESIDENT MOON JAE IN’S IDIOSYNCRASY FACTORS IN SHAPING THE NEW SUNSHINE FOREIGN POLICY IN DEALING WITH NORTH KOREA’S NUCLEAR THREATS (2017-2019)

Abstract

North Korea's nuclear issue has become an important topic that threatens security in the Korean Peninsula. The Korean War, which ended without a peace treaty, made inter-Korean relations unfavorable and exacerbated by the development of North Korea's nuclear program. Every year, North Korea launches various types of missile tests, which raises the international community's concern because of the progress in each type of nuclear launch. As a country responsible for maintaining security on the Korean Peninsula, South Korea has made various efforts to stop North Korea's nuclear development. The foreign policy issued by South Korea constantly re-orientated according to the identity and perspective of the South Korean president at a particular time. President Moon Jae In's administration brought back the Sunshine policy that his two predecessors had implemented and modified according to their characteristics and strategy. This thesis analyzes President Moon Jae In's idiosyncrasy factors informing the new Sunshine policy to resolve North Korea's nuclear threats. This study will use qualitative methods by processing primary and secondary data from various sources. This study aims to prove that the idiosyncratic factor has a significant influence on the decision-making process and the formation of a country's foreign policy. This research shows that President Moon Jae In is a conciliatory leader who has an active-independent leadership character and a decision-making style based on the surrounding situation. His idiosyncratic factor formed a new perspective on North Korea which influenced the formation of national interests and resulted in the construction of a new Sunshine policy. The foreign policy made by President Moon applies the principles of cooperation and peace to make it more manageable to build good inter-Korean relations and regulate the countries' activities that have interests on the Korean Peninsula.