Kim Min-seok Pays Tribute to 'Political Mentor' Late President Kim Dae-jung's Grave

Newly elected Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok signaled a fresh start for the party by visiting the grave of his political mentor, the late former President Kim Dae-jung, today (the 18th), which marks the 17th anniversary of the former president's passing.

Following his visit yesterday to Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, a region hit hard by torrential rain, immediately after being elected party leader at the party convention, Kim visited the Seoul National Cemetery today for the newly minted leadership's first official schedule.

He was accompanied by about 40 lawmakers, including newly elected Supreme Council members Choi Min-hee, Park Sun-won, Seo Mi-hwa, Han Min-su, and Lee Seong-yoon, as well as Floor Leader Han Byeong-do, Policy Committee Chair Han Jeong-ae, and Senior Spokesperson Park Sung-joon.

After burning incense at the Memorial Tower, Kim wrote in the guestbook, "The Democratic Party will become the locomotive of the golden age of the Republic of Korea."

He then paid tribute at the former president's grave located in the cemetery and proceeded directly to attend the memorial ceremony for the 17th anniversary of Kim Dae-jung's passing.

In his memorial address, Kim said, "As the former president's youngest chief of staff, I am greeting you after succeeding him as the leader of the Democratic Party," adding, "Studying, contemplating, being serious, pursuing truth from facts, prioritizing people's livelihoods, and aiming for peace—we are all disciples of the president."

Kim, a prominent figure among the 86 generation (those born in the 1960s and who entered college in the 1980s) student movement, entered politics after being handpicked by former President Kim in 1990, and later served as chief of staff to Kim Dae-jung, president of the Millennium Democratic Party.

Kim stated, "I know that without President Kim's help, the Park Chung-hee Memorial Library would have been difficult to begin. (The president) has become a symbol of reconciliation and integration," adding, "Together with the public, we will transcend ideology to honor and learn from him on a bipartisan basis."

This is seen as demonstrating his determination to lead the party as ruling party leader by inheriting the "Kim Dae-jung spirit" of public livelihood, pragmatism, and national integration.

This afternoon, Kim will visit the May 18 National Cemetery in Gwangju.

This marks a visit to Honam, the party's traditional stronghold that sent him overwhelming support at the convention, just a day after his election.

During the Honam regular party member vote at the convention, Kim secured his victory by leading his competitor, lawmaker Chung Cheong-rae, by a margin of 24.89 percentage points.

Tomorrow, Kim will visit the grave of former President Roh Moo-hyun in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, and pay a courtesy call on former President Moon Jae-in in Pyeongsan Village, Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province.

Interpretations suggest that Kim's visits and courtesy calls to former presidents are a move to overcome the intense internal division among supporters during the convention and begin steps toward party-wide integration.

During the convention, lawmaker Chung Cheong-rae launched attacks by labeling Kim's withdrawal from the party during the 2002 presidential election—where he advocated for a single candidacy between Roh Moo-hyun and Chung Mong-joon—as a betrayal.

On July 17, following his declaration to run for the party leadership, Kim visited former President Roh's grave and apologized for the party defection incident via social media.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.