On the occasion of the death of Kim Dae-jung, the former president of South Korea, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) registers its appreciation of the life and the work of this great leader who lead his people from the rule under brutal militarism to democracy. Modern South Korea owes an eternal debt to Kim Dae-jung and all the resistance fighters that fought continuously for decades against military regimes that brutally repressed the people. Kim Dae-jung remains a model of an organizer of resistance. He was subjected to severe harassment, including five known assassination threats, many years of house arrest and life in exile as a leader of the resistance against militarism. However, he consistently resisted any compromise and created resistance locally and internationally in order to create democracy and rule of law in South Korea. The example he set with his personal sacrifice encouraged overwhelming numbers of people to fight against militarism, despite the ruthlessness it unleashed on the people. These people’s resistance attracted the attention of people throughout the world, who, for long years supported the resistance movements in order to bring democracy to South Korea.
Finally, after much sacrifice, militarism was defeated. Kim Dae-jung as the first president of democratic South Korea strengthened the democratic institutions, recreated the institutions of rule of law and created avenues of access for all the people of South Korea to institutions of governance. Under his leadership, South Korea won a prestigious place as a leader in the struggle for democracy in the region.
Kim Dae-jung’s legacy will remain a challenge to the people of South Korea. Though military regimes have been defeated, the military psychologies and deeply conservative traditions opposing democracy and rule of law still remain within the country. The struggle for democracy and rule of law has not been completed. Kim Dae-jung’s legacy will need to be kept alive to continue with struggles to consolidate the past gains and to prevent the repetitions of past practices of repression. The defense of trade union rights and the defense of freedom of expression and communication remain great challenges still. There have been repeated attacks on these rights.
Kim Dae-jung understood the central role of human rights in the building of a nation committed to democracy. He made every attempt to encourage the protection and promotion of human rights in terms of international norms and standards, as set out by UN conventions on human rights. The elimination of torture and the strengthening of human rights institutions were among his priorities. These tasks have been subject to new challenges. The occasion of the death of Kim Dae-jung must remind everyone of the need for continuous action to defend and improve these institutions.
In many parts of Asia, democracy and the rule of law still remain under great threat. Militarism and various forms of authoritarianism are still widespread. Under these circumstances, the example of Kim Dae-jung needs to be studied and followed in order to develop movements for democracy and rule of law.
