Kim Yeon-cheol: "The Ministry of Unification Carried a Burden Too Heavy for Its Authority"

Farewell Address of the 40th Minister of Unification
"Hatred Cannot Overcome Hatred"

Minister of Unification Kim Yeon-chul, having completed his farewell ceremony, is leaving the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 19th. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

Unification Minister Kim Yeon-cheol stepped down from his position as the 40th minister on the 19th, leaving behind the words, "Hatred can never be overcome by hatred."

In his farewell speech held at the Government Seoul Office on the same day, Minister Kim said, "There are many wounds to heal in inter-Korean relations," adding, "In such a situation, adding new wounds makes healing all the more difficult."

He emphasized, "We must stop here," and earnestly hoped, "My resignation will be an opportunity for a temporary pause."

He expressed his apologies to the staff of the Ministry of Unification.

Minister Kim revealed his regret over the reality that, due to the Ministry's limited authority, a breakthrough in inter-Korean relations could not be achieved, saying, "The most regrettable moments were when you, who worked hard, were not properly recognized," and "The burden you had to bear was too heavy compared to the authority given."

Quoting a line from the Chinese film Life, "If you are alive, good days will come," he said, "If you endure the hardships without falling, opportunities will come."

He then urged, "I hope my resignation will somewhat refresh the current atmosphere and serve as a chance to reconsider the status and role of the Ministry of Unification."

Recently, North Korea has continued to pressure the South by citing the South Korean civilian group's leaflet distribution as a problem, having blown up the Kaesong Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office building on the 16th, and warning of military actions such as redeploying troops to the Mount Kumgang tourism zone, Kaesong Industrial Complex area, and the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

In response, Minister Kim expressed his sudden intention to resign on the 17th, saying, "I thought someone should take responsibility for the deterioration of inter-Korean relations."

Minister Kim was the second head of the Ministry of Unification under the current administration, following former Minister Cho Myoung-gyun, and stepped down after one year and two months since his inauguration on April 8 of last year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.