'101-Year-Old Philosopher' Kim Hyung-seok Advises Yoon Seok-yeol to "Gather People to Work Together"

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Visits Professor Kim's Home on 19th
First External Schedule After Resignation... Emphasizes 'Common Sense' and 'Justice'
Professor Kim: "Society Cannot Be Maintained Without Justice"
"Ruling Party Also Lacks Talent... Must Gather People Who Know How to Work Together"

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is giving a farewell speech as he leaves the Supreme Prosecutors' Office building in Seocho-gu, Seoul, after resigning on the afternoon of the 4th. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol visited the home of Kim Hyung-seok, a 101-year-old philosopher and honorary professor at Yonsei University, and reportedly received various pieces of advice. This meeting was Yoon's first external schedule after his resignation, and Professor Kim is said to have particularly emphasized 'common sense' and 'justice' to Yoon.

According to the 'Dong-A Ilbo' on the 22nd, the meeting between the two lasted nearly two hours at Professor Kim's residence on the afternoon of the 19th. It is reported that the meeting was arranged after Yoon contacted Professor Kim first, saying he would like to visit, and Professor Kim accepted.

On that day, the two exchanged views on various political issues. In particular, Professor Kim criticized the Moon Jae-in administration, saying, "Common sense does not apply because it is impossible to guess which direction it will take," and emphasized, "It is common sense that a society cannot be maintained if it loses justice."

He also reportedly offered advice to former Prosecutor General Yoon. He explained, "People often say there are no talented individuals in the opposition party, but there are none in the ruling party either," adding, "What is important is not the emergence of one capable individual, but gathering people who know how to work together."

Professor Emeritus Kim Hyung-seok of Yonsei University is giving a greeting at a press conference for the publication of a new book held at Seolgawon, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Jongno-gu, Seoul in 2019. / Photo by Yonhap News

There is also a view that the advice given by the veteran philosopher Professor Kim aligns with what former Prosecutor General Yoon has emphasized. Professor Kim has repeatedly criticized the Moon Jae-in administration in recent columns.

In a recent column contributed to a media outlet, he pointed out about the current government, "I feel a sense of crisis that the value of the people's human life and human rights have been damaged, and even the mental social order is being lost," and added, "The current politics exist for the Moon Jae-in regime, not as a government serving the people."

He also criticized, "The government created a society focused solely on struggle beyond division and confrontation," and questioned, "Who are the influential figures that expelled Yoon Seok-yeol, who was promoted as 'our chief,' for investigating the corruption and illegality of the current administration, including the Cho Kuk incident and the Blue House, according to the law?"

On the 4th, Yoon Seok-yeol announced his sudden resignation in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, lamenting, "I can no longer watch the common sense and justice that our society has built up over many years collapse."

He then emphasized, "My role in the prosecution ends here," and said, "I am stepping down to protect justice, common sense, democracy, and the rule of law in our society." Afterward, Yoon remained out of the public eye without any particular activity until he started his first external schedule by visiting Professor Kim on the 19th.

Meanwhile, Professor Kim was born in Unsan, Pyongbuk, now part of North Korea. After majoring in philosophy at Chuo University in Japan, he witnessed liberation in his hometown and later defected from North Korea in 1947. Since then, he has worked as a professor in South Korea and has been active in various lectures and writings. He has published numerous books, including 'In Search of the Meaning of Life,' 'Having Lived a Hundred Years,' and 'There Is No Pathless Road.'

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