With democratization, South Korean society has opened up foreign policy issues fordebate among the populace. In Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun administrations,large proportions of the organizations in South Korean civil society are in favor ofcooperation and improving inter-Korean relations. This orientation of groups withinSouth Korean civil society toward the North affects South Korean general people’sperception on North Korea and South Korean engagement policy in Kim Dae-jungand Roh Moo-hyun administrations. However, in Lee Myung-bak administration, therole of South Korean civil society to South Korean policy toward North Korea wasrapidly decreased even though the importance and number of civil society was stillmaintained. The purpose of this paper is to analyze how and why the role of SouthKorean civil society has been differed between Kim and Roh administrations and Leeadministration in the policy making process toward North Korea. The supports frompolitical leadership and trust on the political sector and civil society have an effectto the role of civil society in the inter-Korean relations between Kim Dae-jung andRoh Moo-hyun administrations and Lee Myung-bak administrations.