On August 18, the ruling and opposition parties reflected on the legacy of late President Kim Dae-jung, marking the 17th anniversary of his passing. While leaders from the Democratic Party and the broader ruling coalition, including National Assembly Speaker Cho Jung-sik, attended the memorial service, the leadership of the People Power Party canceled their attendance to visit flood-affected areas in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province.
Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok expressed at the memorial service, honoring his political mentor, "As the youngest secretary to the President, I stand here as the party leader to pay my respects." He added, "We are all disciples of the President, who prioritized practical solutions and the people's livelihood while striving for peace. We will honor and learn from him across party lines with the public."
Speaker Cho stated, "The President's life was a testament to overcoming adversity in South Korea's history. He defended democracy amid the oppression of dictatorship, enduring kidnappings, death sentences, imprisonment, and exile, yet never abandoned his historical mission." He pledged that the National Assembly would strive to continue the President's spirit of unity and pragmatism, reinforcing democracy and safeguarding the lives of the people while promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula.
President Lee Jae-myung, represented by Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik at the memorial, remarked, "Even under the harsh oppression of military dictatorship, he only thought of the people and democracy. We reflect on the President's brilliant insight and legacy, which paved the way for hope amid despair."
Former President Moon Jae-in also shared on Facebook, "His call to 'set aside personal interests for the greater good and unite' resonates deeply today. I hope future generations will carry and practice the noble spirit left by the name 'Kim Dae-jung.'"
The People Power Party also joined in honoring the late President. Spokesperson Park Chung-kwon stated, "We remember the late President, who never wavered in his belief in the nation's future amid numerous hardships and adversities. He practiced the values of democracy and human rights and worked for peace on the Korean Peninsula."
He added, "The spirit of parliamentary democracy that President Kim defended through the first-ever filibuster has been institutionalized through the 2012 National Assembly Advancement Act. However, it is regrettable to see that even this law is now at risk due to the Democratic Party's legislative rush. We ponder what the late President would have said if he were to witness today's National Assembly."
He concluded by promising to ensure that the democratic legacy left by the late President does not become a mere slogan in political strife but continues as a principle in South Korean politics. Earlier, the People Power Party had announced its leadership would attend the memorial service but changed their schedule at the last minute to visit the flood-affected areas, resulting in the cancellation of the first meeting between newly elected leader Kim and the party's representative, Jang Dong-hyuk.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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