Words show Kim’s personal side
Published: 22 Aug. 2009, 06:35
Surviving family members of the late President Kim Dae-jung yesterday made public part of the journal he handwrote during the first six months of this year. In it, the lifelong democracy fighter criticized the incumbent government and expressed his love for his wife.
“The journal will greatly help people understand former President Kim Dae-jung’s last thoughts and his love for the country and the people,” said Choi Gyung-hwan, Kim’s secretary. “There are some phrases that can be considered his will.”
The excerpts from Kim’s journal were made into a 40-page book titled “Life is Beautiful and History Develops.” The period stretches from Jan. 1 till June 4, a month before his health condition sharply deteriorated. Early in July, Kim was hospitalized at Yonsei University’s Severance Hospital in western Seoul, where he died this week. His secretary Choi said Kim left two diaries - for 2008 and 2009. But the existence of journals kept before 2008 hasn’t been confirmed, according to Choi.
On Jan 6, his 85th birthday, he wrote, “Looking back, my life has been full of ups and downs. But I spent my entire life struggling for the sake of democracy and doing my best to revive the economy and open the path for reconciliation between the South and North. Although my life hasn’t been entirely satisfactory, I have no regrets.”
On May 23, he wrote about the suicide of his political successor, former President Roh Moo-hyun. “The prosecution has been conducting an overly harsh investigation [into Roh’s alleged bribery]. [The prosecution] attacked Roh’s wife, son, daughter, older brother and nephew-in-law as if it was on a mopping-up operation. And it manipulated the media by unveiling probe secrets every day, violating the law,” he said. “In the end, Roh’s suicide is no different than a forced event.”
Six days later, Kim mentioned his thoughts after attending Roh’s funeral. “Such nationwide condolence is unprecedented. The nation’s disappointment, anger and sorrow about the reality seem to have overlapped with those of Roh’s. Should the government continue its oppressive stance, a huge disaster won’t be avoided.”
Regarding North Korea’s second nuclear test in late May, Kim said it was “highly deplorable and shouldn’t be allowed.” But he expressed regret over U.S. President Barack Obama’s “attitude,” saying the new American president had left North Korean policies to drag on - which wasn’t what the North had hoped. In announcing his willingness to improve ties with Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Syria, Russia and Cuba, Obama excluded North Korea, which “seems to have led North Korea to proceed with a nuclear test to draw attention from the United States,” Kim noted.
Kim showed his affection for Lee Hee-ho, his wife and lifelong political associate, in various parts of the journal. Married in 1962, the couple fought against the dictatorship in the 1970s. When Kim was elected president in 1997, Lee was 75. Kim wrote on Jan. 7, “My relationship with my wife is the best since our marriage. I love and respect my wife. If it had not been for her, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. Still, I won’t be able to live without her.”
By Seo Ji-eun [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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