Baek Giwan, Keeping the "Fiery Vow to Move Forward All His Life," Passes Away

Unification Activist Baek Gi-wan Passes Away, Lifelong Advocate for Unification, Labor, Farmers, and Urban Poor Movements... Twice Presidential Candidate, Original Author of 'March for the Beloved'

[Asia Economy reporters Ryu Jeong-min and Jeon Jin-young] Baek Gi-wan, a unification activist and poet who served as the director of the Unification Issues Research Institute, passed away in the early morning of the 15th at Seoul National University Hospital. He was 88 years old. The funeral hall was set up in Room 2 of the Seoul National University Hospital funeral home, and the funeral procession will be held at 7 a.m. on the 19th.

Director Baek had been hospitalized and receiving treatment at Seoul National University Hospital due to worsening pneumonia symptoms. His surviving family includes his wife Kim Jeong-sook, daughters Baek Won-dam (professor of Chinese Language and Literature at Sungkonghoe University), Baek Mi-dam, Baek Hyun-dam, and son Baek Il.

Born on January 24, 1933, in Eunyul-gun, Hwanghae Province, Director Baek was a symbolic figure of the progressive camp who experienced firsthand the turbulent sites of modern Korean history, including the April 19 Revolution and the June 10 Democratic Uprising.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

From the 1950s, he influenced the entire progressive movement, including urban poor movements, anti-dictatorship struggles, and labor movements. Director Baek is also famous as the original author of the song "March for the Beloved," known as the anthem of the people. This song, which begins with "Without leaving love or name...," is based on Baek’s long poem "Motbinari" and was lyrically adapted by novelist Hwang Sok-yong.

In 1974, Director Baek was arrested along with activist Jang Jun-ha for violating Presidential Emergency Decree No. 1, and he had to endure imprisonment throughout his life. Despite poor health due to long-term incarceration and the aftereffects of torture, he strove to live as an active social activist. At large gatherings with massive crowds, the front row was often occupied by an elderly white-haired man dressed in a white traditional robe?that was Director Baek.

Director Baek ran for president twice, in 1987 and 1992. In the 1987 presidential election, he was nominated as the candidate of students, workers, and the people who wished to end military dictatorship, but he stepped down from the candidacy for the common goal of "achieving a democratic government." In the 1992 presidential election, he completed the race.

At that time, Director Baek received 238,648 votes nationwide (1% of the vote), ranking fifth. University students across the country volunteered to support his campaign, and some even used their dormitory deposit money to fund the election.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Messages of condolence for Director Baek also continued in the political sphere. Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said at the Supreme Council meeting that day, "His intense life will be remembered forever along with the March for the Beloved."

Kim Eun-hye, spokesperson for the People Power Party, commented, "True progressivism still seems to awaken the dignity of life, justice, and fairness, like the 'sprout of the earth rising with a heave'."

Kang Eun-mi, emergency committee chairperson of the Justice Party, also stated, "We will work even harder for the world where the people, which the teacher could not fully achieve, become the masters."

Park Young-sun, former Minister of SMEs and Startups and candidate for the Seoul mayoral by-election, left a message saying, "Teacher, who expressed your burning passion for unification, you worked so hard." Woo Sang-ho, a Democratic Party lawmaker, said, "A person whose shadow was hard to follow, we have lost the light of the era once again."

Lee Jeong-mi, former leader of the Justice Party, also pledged on Facebook, "We will walk well on the path you opened for democracy and peaceful unification throughout your life."

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