Ruling and Opposition Parties Gather at DJ's 100th Anniversary Ceremony... Emphasizing 'National Unity'

Handonghun, DJ Quote "History Will Progress"
Lee Jaemyung, Through Ko Minjung's Recommendation, Congratulatory Speech "We Must Unite Intentions"

Political figures, including leaders from both ruling and opposition parties, gathered on the 6th at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, for the 100th anniversary commemorative ceremony of former President Kim Dae-jung's birth.

They emphasized the inheritance of the spirit of reconciliation and unity known as the ‘DJ Spirit.’ Especially in the wake of the stabbing incident involving Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, the need for ‘national unity’ was widely agreed upon amid calls to overcome ‘politics of hatred.’

Handonghun, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party (right), and Hong Ikpyo, Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, are having a conversation at the 'Together for the Future' ceremony commemorating the 100th anniversary of Kim Dae-jung's birth, held on the 6th at KINTEX in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Kim Jin-pyo, Speaker of the National Assembly and co-chairman of the ‘DJ 100th Anniversary Commemorative Project,’ said in his congratulatory speech, “Current politics is mired in confrontation, discord, division, and polarization,” adding, “What former President Kim surely wishes for us is national unity.”

Ban Ki-moon, former UN Secretary-General, stated, “Politics is holding back the country and its people, with distrust, hatred, and hostility widespread,” and emphasized, “To overcome internal and external crises, there is no other way but firm national unity and cohesion.”

Han Duck-soo, Prime Minister representing the government, said, “President Yoon Suk-yeol also conveyed his deep respect for the former president,” and stressed, “Our government will deeply cherish the president’s legacy and strive to open an era of trust and unity beyond division and conflict.”

Han Dong-hoon, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, mentioned that his family participated in the gold-collecting campaign during the Kim Dae-jung administration to overcome the IMF financial crisis, and praised, “Former President Kim achieved the harmony and empathy that this country desperately needs together with the people.”

He added, “With that very spirit, the People Power Party and I will do much better both in Honam and Yeongnam regions,” quoting from DJ’s sayings, “Life becomes more beautiful the more you think about it, and history progresses forward,” concluding, “Life is beautiful, and history will progress.”

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, who was hospitalized due to the stabbing incident, delivered a congratulatory message through Ko Min-jung, Supreme Council member. Lee said, “The democracy of former President Kim, who devoted his life to democracy, the livelihood economy, and peace on the Korean Peninsula, belonged to both the fighters and the protectors,” and added, “Let us protect democracy, livelihood, and peace in crisis with our own hands. If we unite our will, we can do it. When we become one, we can achieve it.”

Former President Moon Jae-in attended with First Lady Kim Jung-sook. Moon pointed out, “The world that former President Kim longed for is becoming more distant, and the world is going backward,” criticizing, “Endless politics of retaliation and narrow ideological politics are pushing national unity further away.”

Moon continued, “In the past, the opposition’s grand unity led to the founding of the Democratic United Party, which ultimately brought about a regime change,” and said, “As former President Kim’s last will stated, we must unite and integrate once again.” This is interpreted as a call for opposition unity ahead of the April general elections.

Former President Moon Jae-in and First Lady Kim Jung-sook are attending the 100th anniversary ceremony of former President Kim Dae-jung's birth held on the 6th at KINTEX in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

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