With “DJ, a visionary who sees through the spirit of the times” vs. Opposition “Yoon administration’s economic collapse and democracy’s collapse”

by times news cr
At the 15th anniversary memorial service for the late former President Kim Dae-jung held at the National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul on the 18th, attendees including National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik, People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon, and Democratic Party of Korea acting leader Park Chan-dae salute the national flag. 2024.8.18 News 1

The ruling and opposition party leaders gathered together on the 18th to mark the 15th anniversary of the death of former President Kim Dae-jung (DJ). While each emphasized the practice of the ‘DJ spirit’ in their eulogy, they continued to make sharp criticisms of each other.

People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon attended the memorial service held at the Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul on the morning of that day and said, “Former President Kim showed insight that transcended factions and penetrated the spirit of the times more than any politician in 2024,” and added, “If we just put these words into practice now, I think we will definitely be able to create a much better Republic of Korea than it is now.” He then quoted DJ’s words, “Life is beautiful and history progresses,” and said, “Reality is difficult, but I hope that in the end, our politics can make more people’s lives beautiful and the history of the Republic of Korea progress faster.” This is interpreted as a call for cooperation toward the opposition party.

On the other hand, Park Chan-dae, the acting leader and floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said, “We cannot raise our heads in front of the president’s portrait today,” and “Democracy has collapsed in just two and a half years under the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, the people’s economy has collapsed, and the security and peace of the Korean Peninsula have been shattered.” He also said, “(The Yoon Seok-yeol administration) is even attempting an anti-national historical coup that is destroying the identity of the Republic of Korea and the spirit of the Constitution,” and “As former President Kim said, we will not compromise with injustice.”

Lee Jae-myung, the party’s representative candidate who attended the memorial service ahead of the convention, also said, “(DJ’s) ‘scholarly sense of problems and commercial sense of reality’ are the roots of ‘foodie-ism'” and, “Like the president, I will make a way when there is no way, and I will create hope even in despair.”

The memorial service was attended by the sons of former Presidents Roh Tae-woo, Kim Young-sam, and Kim Dae-jung, including National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik, as well as Noh Jae-heon, Kim Hyun-chul, and Noh Geon-ho. Former Presidents Yoon Seok-yeol and Moon Jae-in sent wreaths.

Reporter Kim Ji-hyun [email protected]

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2024-08-18 13:13:30

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