Inter-Korean Summit Preparatory Committee | 2018.4.20

President Moon Jae-in has been named one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People of 2018” and Fortune magazine’s “World’s 50 Greatest Leaders of 2018.”

Announcing its list April 19 (Korean Standard Time), Time included President Moon, who was selected in the leader category, and described him as having “made dramatic moves with regard to North Korea” following his election. He was recommended by former U.S. ambassador to Seoul Mark Lippert. The following is the full text of the introduction written by Lippert on why he recommended President Moon for the honor:

“Moon Jae-in was quick to visit me in the hospital in Seoul after I was attacked by a knife-wielding pro–North Korean nationalist while serving as U.S. ambassador in 2015. Befitting his reputation, Moon, then the opposition leader, was compassionate and engaged. He shared with me a Korean proverb, “The ground hardens after the rain,” and we spoke of how crisis begets opportunity.”

“Following his election to the presidency in 2017, Moon has made dramatic moves with regard to North Korea: hosting Kim Jong-un’s sister at the Winter Olympics, agreeing to an inter-Korean summit and brokering what could be a first-ever U.S.–North Korea summit between President Trump and Kim. Moon must now navigate between the U.S. and North Korea, as well as regional rivalries, to rid Pyongyang of illegal nuclear weapons and missile programs.”

“The stakes could hardly be higher. Negotiations could easily break down, but resolving this intractable issue could help define the future of the Korean Peninsula, Asia and the world.”

Fortune magazine ranked President Moon fourth on its list of “World’s 50 Greatest Leaders of 2018,” giving the following explanation for its choice:

“Moon took office last May under inauspicious circumstances—his predecessor was impeached for corruption. Yet Moon speedily enacted reforms aimed at creating a fairer economy, such as boosting the minimum wage, expanding health coverage, and addressing the influence of the country’s chaebol conglomerates.”

“Moon has been pivotal in arranging talks between President Trump and North Korea’s Kim Jong-Un, a possible prelude to inter-Korean reconciliation.”

Topping the Fortune list were the students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and other schools leading a movement to demand tougher gun restrictions in the U.S. Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates and his wife Melinda ranked second and the #MeToo Movement third. Though in fourth place, President Moon was the top-ranked political leader on the list.

President Moon, named one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People of 2018” and Fortune magazine’s “World’s 50 Greatest Leaders of 2018”