South Korean Parties Unite to Honor Kim Dae-jung’s Legacy: A Call for Unity and Progress

South Korean Ruling and Opposition Parties Unite to Commemorate Kim Dae-jung’s 100th Birth Anniversary

In a show of unity, politicians from both the ruling and opposition parties gathered together to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung. The event, held at KINTEX in Gyeonggi Province, emphasized the importance of honoring Kim’s spirit of reconciliation and integration amidst division and conflict.

Key Points:

• The commemorative event took place at KINTEX in Gyeonggi Province.
• Representatives from the ruling party, including Han Dong-hoon and Han Deok-soo, attended.
• Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon represented the opposition party.
• Hong Ik-pyo, the floor leader of the ruling party, and Ko Min-jeong, the senior secretary to the president, also attended from the opposition party.

Other notable attendees included Kim Jin-pyo, the Speaker of the National Assembly, former President Moon Jae-in, and former opposition party leader Lee Nak-yeon. However, current opposition party leader Lee Jae-myung was unable to attend due to hospitalization.

Emphasizing Unity and Reflection:

Han Dong-hoon, the emergency response committee chairman of the opposition party, highlighted his dual role as a representative of the ruling party and a citizen who lived through the Kim Dae-jung era. Drawing from his experience in participating in the fundraising campaign during the financial crisis, he stressed the importance of unity and empathy.

Prime Minister Han praised Kim Dae-jung’s life as a testament to the history of South Korean democracy and the advancement of human rights. He emphasized the government’s determination to overcome division and conflict, opening an era of trust and unity, while deeply engraving Kim’s legacy.

Ko Min-jeong, the spokesperson for the ruling party, underscored the need for opposition party unity and emphasized the values of democracy, livelihood, and peace, indirectly criticizing the current government.

Call to Action:

Speaker Kim Jin-pyo expressed regret that current Korean politics are not following the path set by former President Kim Dae-jung. He criticized the current political climate of polarization, confrontation, factionalism, and failure in dialogue and compromise.

The commemorative event aimed to honor Kim Dae-jung’s legacy and promote unity, democracy, economic development, and peace. Attendees recognized Kim’s efforts in resolving conflicts and promoting national dialogue, emphasizing the importance of the current government following in his footsteps.

Former President Moon Jae-in indirectly criticized the current government, expressing concern over the crisis facing democracy and the increasing difficulties in the economy and livelihoods. He called for unity and integration under the values of democracy, economy, and peace, embracing Kim Dae-jung’s legacy.

Conclusion:

The 100th anniversary commemorative event for the birth of former President Kim Dae-jung brought together politicians from both the ruling and opposition parties. Attendees stressed the importance of upholding democracy, promoting economic development, and pursuing peace, values that Kim Dae-jung strongly advocated for. The event served as a reminder of the need for unity and cooperation to overcome division and work towards a better future for South Korea.