Korean academic, filmmaker Kim arrives in Taiwan

Kim Young-oak (金容沃), founder of the Korea Institute for Classical Studies in Seoul, arrived at Taipei for an eight-day visit yesterday. Kim, who is known as "The King Maker" because of his powerful election campaign strategies that helped South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun (盧武炫) get elected two years ago, is slated to meet with President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) during his visit.

Kim, who is now one of Roh's key advisors, in 2003 predicted that Chen would win a second term in last year's March presidential election.

Kim was invited to Taiwan by the Council of Cultural Affairs to tour the nation. He will travel to Taitung to see local Aboriginal tribes. Kim will also visit Kaohsiung and Tainan and meet with artists and cultural figures.

Kim also plans to make a documentary series of the Korean independence movement during his stay in Taiwan. He will visit the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) archives and Academia Historica to collect documents about the movement.