Former President of South Korea, Kim Dae Jung: Dead At 85
South Korea is in mourning once again with the death of popular opposition leader and former president, Kim Dae-Jung. His successor, former president Roh Moo-Hyun also died three months ago by suicide.
A 2000 Nobel Peace Prize awardee, Kim Dae-Jung’s “Sunshine Policy”, during his term, was an instrumental and radical plan aimed to achieve peace and stability in the whole Korean peninsula. He was also referred to as the “Nelson Mandela of Asia” for his long-time political stance against the authoritarian regime of Park Chung-Hee and his successors. Also a known political victim and survivor, Kim Dae-Jung escaped kidnapping and assassination attempts, long-term imprisonments, and even the death row. With his own self-will and perseverance, he was voted President of the Republic of Korea in 1998.
The death of former president Kim Dae-Jung coincided with the recent passing of another democratic icon, former Philippine president Corazon C. Aquino. Both leaders where key instruments for Korea and the Philippines, respectively, in achieving back the democracy and freedom lost by both countries during the dark years of dictatorial past.
