1. Overview
Hwang In-sung (황인성Korean, January 9, 1926 - October 11, 2010) was a prominent South Korean soldier, politician, and public servant who notably served as the 25th Prime Minister of South Korea. Born in Muju County, North Jeolla Province during the period of Korea under Japanese rule, Hwang's career spanned various significant roles from military leadership to high-level government administration and legislative duties. He was a Major General in the Republic of Korea Army before transitioning into politics following the May 16 military coup. His political career included three terms as a member of the National Assembly and multiple ministerial positions. Hwang In-sung holds a unique place in South Korean history as the first Prime Minister appointed under the Kim Young-sam administration, which marked the beginning of the country's first civilian government after decades of military rule. His tenure as Prime Minister, however, was cut short by the controversial "open rice ripple" incident, a significant public debate surrounding the opening of the rice market. After his political career, he continued to contribute to society through corporate advisory roles and leadership in historical and patriotic organizations.
2. Early Life and Background
Hwang In-sung was born on January 9, 1926, in Muju County, North Jeolla Province, which was then part of Korea under Japanese rule. His ancestral seat was the Changwon Hwang clan. Details of his early upbringing and family background are not widely documented, but his formative years laid the groundwork for his eventual military and public service careers.
3. Military Career
Hwang In-sung embarked on his military career by attending the Korea Military Academy, graduating as part of its 4th class. He furthered his education at the National Defense College and the Seoul National University Graduate School of Public Administration. His academic pursuits also extended internationally, with studies at the US Army Staff College and the University of Pittsburgh.
His military service saw him rise through the ranks, taking on various significant responsibilities. In 1958, he served as the Head of the Army Central Accounting Unit. The following year, in 1959, he became the Principal of the Army Accounting School. By 1960, Hwang was appointed the Army Headquarters Accounting Supervisor. His career in the military culminated in his appointment as a Major General in 1968, the same year he was transferred to the reserve forces.
4. Public Service Career
Following his military retirement, Hwang In-sung transitioned into various administrative and governmental roles, culminating in a series of high-profile appointments across different ministries and as a provincial governor.
4.1. Major Public Office Holdings
Hwang In-sung held several key administrative positions throughout his public service career:
- Chief of the Procurement Agency:** He served as the first Chief of the Procurement Agency from 1961 to 1962. Before this, he was the Chief of the Foreign Procurement Agency from August 1961 to October 1961, before the agency was reorganized into the Procurement Agency.
- Director of Ministry of National Defense Finance Bureau:** In 1963, he was appointed Director of the Ministry of National Defense Finance Bureau.
- Special Assistant to Minister without Portfolio:** In 1970, Hwang served as a Special Assistant to the Minister without Portfolio.
- Chief of the Prime Minister's Secretariat:** From March 1973 to October 1973, he held the position of Chief of the Prime Minister's Secretariat.
- Governor of North Jeolla Province:** He was appointed the 19th Governor of North Jeolla Province in October 1973, serving for five years until December 1978.
- Minister of Transport:** From December 1978 to December 1979, Hwang served as the 24th Minister of Transport.
- President of Korea National Tourism Corporation:** Following his tenure as Minister of Transport, he became the President of the Korea National Tourism Corporation.
- Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries:** In February 1985, he was appointed the 37th Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, serving until December 1986.
- Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries:** With the reorganization of the ministry, he became the first Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in January 1987, serving until May 1987.
5. Political Career
Hwang In-sung's political involvement saw him serve multiple terms in the National Assembly and hold significant positions within the ruling parties of the era, reflecting South Korea's evolving political landscape.
5.1. National Assembly Activities
Hwang In-sung was elected to the National Assembly for three terms, representing different constituencies and through proportional representation:
- 11th National Assembly (1981-1985):** He was elected as a member of the 11th National Assembly, representing the Jinan, Muju, and Jangsu constituency in North Jeolla Province. Running as a candidate for the Democratic Justice Party, he secured 49,690 votes, accounting for 56.61% of the total, and was elected in the first place.
- 12th National Assembly (1985-1988):** For his second term, Hwang was elected through the national constituency (proportional representation) as the 10th candidate on the Democratic Justice Party's list. The party garnered 7,040,477 votes, representing 35.2% of the national vote.
- 14th National Assembly (1992-1996):** In the 1992 general election, Hwang was once again elected to the 14th National Assembly, representing the Jinan, Muju, and Jangsu constituency. This time, he ran under the banner of the Democratic Liberal Party, securing 32,280 votes, or 51.05% of the votes, and was elected in the first place.
During his time in the National Assembly, he actively participated in legislative affairs, notably serving as the Chairman of the National Assembly Transportation and Communication Committee.
5.2. Party Activities
Hwang In-sung held significant roles within the political parties he was affiliated with, particularly during South Korea's transition from authoritarian rule to democracy.
- Democratic Justice Party:** As a member of the Democratic Justice Party, which was the ruling party during the Fifth Republic under Chun Doo-hwan's military-backed government, Hwang served as the Chairman of the Jeonbuk Provincial Committee. His involvement with this party highlights his career trajectory within the political structures that emerged after the May 16 military coup.
- Democratic Liberal Party:** Later, he joined the Democratic Liberal Party, a major conservative party formed through a merger of the Democratic Justice Party, the Reunification Democratic Party, and the New Democratic Republican Party. Within this party, he served as the Chairman of the Policy Committee from May 1992 until February 1993. After his tenure as Prime Minister, he also held the position of Standing Advisor to the President of the Democratic Liberal Party.
6. Prime Minister Tenure
Hwang In-sung's appointment as Prime Minister marked a pivotal moment in South Korean political history. On February 25, 1993, he was appointed by President Kim Young-sam as the first Prime Minister of the Civilian Government. This appointment symbolized a significant shift towards democratic governance after decades of military-backed rule, with Kim Young-sam being the first civilian president elected in over 30 years.
6.1. Tenure and Resignation
Hwang In-sung's premiership lasted for approximately 10 months, from February 25, 1993, to December 16, 1993. During this period, his administration faced critical national issues, including economic reforms and international trade negotiations.
His tenure was abruptly concluded by his resignation, which stemmed from the highly controversial "open rice ripple" incident. This controversy arose from the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations, which included discussions on opening agricultural markets, particularly the rice market. The prospect of opening the domestic rice market to imports sparked widespread public outcry and protests from farmers and various social groups in South Korea, who feared devastating impacts on the nation's agricultural sector and food security. Hwang In-sung, as Prime Minister, took political responsibility for the developments related to the rice market opening negotiations and the resulting public sentiment. His resignation on December 16, 1993, underscored the immense social and political pressure surrounding the issue of agricultural market liberalization during South Korea's early civilian government era. He was succeeded by Lee Hoi-chang.
7. Post-Political Activities and Later Life
After his resignation from the Prime Minister's office, Hwang In-sung continued to engage in various corporate and social activities, maintaining a public presence and contributing to different sectors.
7.1. Corporate Advisor and Social Activities
In 1996, Hwang In-sung took on the role of Standing Advisor to the Kumho Asiana Group, a prominent South Korean conglomerate. He also served as the President of Asiana Airlines, one of the group's major subsidiaries, contributing his experience to the corporate sector. After his tenure as Prime Minister, he also held the position of Standing Advisor to the President of the Democratic Liberal Party, and later served as a Standing Advisor to the New Korea Party, a successor to the Democratic Liberal Party.
Beyond his corporate engagements, Hwang dedicated a significant portion of his later life to social and historical organizations. From 2002 until his death, he served as the Chairman of the Ahn Jung-geun Association (안중근의사숭모회Korean, Ahn Jung-geun Euisa Sungmohoe), an organization dedicated to honoring the legacy of Ahn Jung-geun, a revered Korean independence activist. From 2008, he also held the position of Honorary Chairman of the same association. His leadership in this organization highlights his commitment to national identity and the remembrance of historical figures who fought for Korean independence, contributing to the ongoing discussions about historical perception in South Korea.
8. Evaluation and Impact
Hwang In-sung's career reflects a complex period in South Korean history, marked by transitions from military rule to democracy. His long tenure in public service, spanning military, administrative, and political roles, demonstrates his adaptability and sustained influence.
8.1. Criticism and Controversies
The most significant controversy during Hwang In-sung's public career was the "open rice ripple" that led to his resignation as Prime Minister. This incident highlighted the deep societal divisions and economic challenges South Korea faced regarding agricultural policy and international trade liberalization. His decision to resign, taking responsibility for the contentious issue of rice market opening during the Uruguay Round negotiations, underscored the immense public and political pressure on the nascent civilian government to protect national interests, particularly those of the agricultural sector.
Furthermore, Hwang In-sung's career trajectory, which saw him enter politics after the May 16 military coup and serve within the Democratic Justice Party-a political entity formed under the military-backed Fifth Republic-places him within the broader historical context of figures who navigated and participated in the political structures that emerged from authoritarian rule. While he later served as the first Prime Minister of a civilian government, his earlier associations reflect the complex and often challenging path of South Korea's democratization, where individuals from previous regimes transitioned into new political landscapes.
9. Death
Hwang In-sung passed away on October 11, 2010, at the age of 84, in Seoul, South Korea. The cause of his death was attributed to old age. His passing marked the end of a long and impactful career in South Korean public life, from a distinguished military officer to a key political figure during a transformative era for the nation.