Former agriculture minister passes away

Jang Deok-jin

Jang Deok-jin, who served as agriculture minister during ex-President Park Chung-hee’s rule, passed away, Thursday. He was 82.

Jang is also the son-in-law of Yuk In-soon, the oldest sister of President Park’s wife, Yuk Young-soo.

Born in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, he graduated from Korea University with a bachelor’s degree in law in 1960 and passed the bar, civil service and foreign service examinations. In 1968, he became director of finance management at the finance ministry and secretary to the late President Park. Afterward, he served as assistant secretary of financial affairs at the ministry and chief secretary of foreign capital management for the president.

Jang assumed the role of the Korea Football Association’s president from 1970 to 1973.

He became a lawmaker in 1971 and agriculture minister in 1977.

In 1985, he became the president of Korea University’s alumni association.

After retiring from government posts, Jang in 1988 set up a research institute which aided the expansion of Korea’s presence in China. He became a special economic adviser to China’s Heilongjiang Province in 1993, an honorary professor at Harbin Institute of Technology in 1994 and an economic advisor to Jilin Province in 1995.

He is survived by his three children, with his oldest son Won-joon the head of the international department at TV Chosun.