Many political and related figures from the ruling and opposition parties attended to honor the footsteps of the deceased.
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Jeong-hyun and Lee Yu-lip = On the 23rd, the 8th anniversary of the death of former Prime Minister Kim Jong-pil (JP), a memorial ceremony was held to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of former Prime Minister Kim and the 8th anniversary at the National Assembly Hall.
The event was attended by a variety of people from the ruling and opposition parties, including Chairman Chung Dae-cheol of the Constitutional Council, Han Gwang-ok, former Chief of Staff to President Kim Dae-jung, former Liberty Forward Party leader Shim Dae-pyeong, South Chungcheong Governor-elect Park Soo-hyun, Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Hwang Hee, former Rep. Kim Kyung-soo and Kim Doo-gwan, People Power Party floor leader Jeong Jeong-sik, Reps. Joo Ho-young, Cho Bae-sook, Na Kyung-won, Seong Il-jong, Kim Jang-gyeom, Park Sang-woong, Cho Seung-hwan and Yoon Yong-geun, and former National Assembly Vice Speaker Jeong Jin-seok. Political and relevant figures attended.
Additionally, President Lee Jae-myung, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, National Assembly Speaker Jo Jung-sik, Democratic Party leader Chung Cheong-rae, and People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk sent wreaths.
In the opening declaration, Rep. Na Kyung-won, vice-chairman of the Kim Jong-pil Foundation, said, "The reason I especially miss the president in a time when politics was harsh and formal, and the language of politics became cheap, is because he was a great adult with wisdom and dignity. I hope that the spirit of the president, who showed the way in times of turmoil, will be revived in this country."
In his congratulatory speech, floor leader Jeong Jeong-sik also said, "Some people call you an eternal second-in-command, but you were a great political leader and a true figurehead who led the Republic of Korea better than most presidents. In an era when respect and humanity in politics have disappeared and the spirit of moderation has faded, the absence of a great politician who led unity with moderation and dignity is felt even more. What we need now is the spirit of Kim Jong-pil."
In his congratulatory address, Park Soo-hyun, Governor-elect of South Chungcheong Province, said, “As the Governor of South Chungcheong Province, I pledge to consistently practice the spirit of Chungcheong, which is represented by loyalty, filial piety, and example, as taught by the Governor.”
Jeong Jin-seok, former vice-chairman of the National Assembly, who entered politics through the Liberal Democratic Alliance led by former Prime Minister Kim and served as a key aide, wrote on Facebook, "Former Prime Minister Kim said, 'There are people who are wondering why I helped the suspicious Kim Dae-jung, but I still think I have relieved the sorrow of the Honam people in this land.' JP's democratization achievement of 'DJP unification decision', despite criticism, should never be underestimated."
Former Prime Minister Kim, one of the pillars of the 'Three Kim Era', appeared at the forefront of modern political history when he participated in the May 16 coup of his wife's uncle, former President Park Chung-hee, in 1961. The various nicknames given to the deceased, such as founder of the Central Intelligence Agency, politician of fortune, eternal second-in-command, politician of economy, master of manners, and romantic politician, give a glimpse into his political life of ups and downs.
The deceased founded the New Democratic Republican Party in 1987 and ran for president, but was defeated. However, he succeeded in securing 35 seats in the National Assembly based on the Chungcheong region in the 1988 general election.
Afterwards, taking advantage of the cabinet system, he supported then-presidential candidate Kim Young-sam (YS) in the 1992 presidential election, and in the 1997 presidential election, he ran for the presidency again as a candidate for the Liberal Democratic Alliance, which he founded. However, at the end of the election, the 'DJP (Kim Dae-jung and Kim Jong-pil) coalition' was concluded and declared support for then-presidential candidate Kim Dae-jung, creating the first horizontal regime change and the joint government of the National Assembly and the United Liberal Democrats, which is said to be the most symbolic event in the deceased's political trajectory.
Afterwards, he served as prime minister, but the gap between the heads of the joint government broke down their cooperation. He attempted a comeback in the 2004 general election, but when he lost miserably, he announced his retirement from politics.
