Handonghun "Promote Change and Innovation in Line with YS Spirit"
Pak Chandae "YS Will Resist Unjust Power and Forge a New Path"
The 9th anniversary memorial service for the late former President Kim Young-sam was held on the 22nd at the National Seoul National Cemetery’s Memorial Hall.
The memorial service was attended by Woo Won-shik, Speaker of the National Assembly; Joo Ho-young, Deputy Speaker; Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party; Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea; Hwang Un-ha, floor leader of the Party for National Innovation; Heo Eun-ah, leader of the Reform Party; and other leaders and members from both ruling and opposition parties.
In his memorial address, Speaker Woo said, "Former President Kim said, ‘Without compromise, there is no politics, and without politics, there is nothing.’ This resonates deeply with our current political reality."
Leader Han Dong-hoon stated, "Former President Kim took the first step toward making the Republic of Korea a liberal democracy and directly initiated true democracy. Through the eradication of authoritarianism and corruption, he laid the foundation for Korea to be reborn as a modern ‘free nation.’"
He continued, "The People Power Party is a party that inherits the spirit of Kim Young-sam. We will boldly pursue change and innovation that meet the expectations of the people in accordance with Kim Young-sam’s spirit, and everyone will participate in this process."
Floor leader Park Chan-dae said, "Former President Kim fought against unjust power for democracy and laid the cornerstone of the civilian government. Through reforms such as the eradication of the Hanahoe and the real-name financial system, he achieved accomplishments that strengthened national transparency and fairness."
He added, "Democracy in the Republic of Korea is once again facing a serious crisis. However, even if it seems to regress temporarily, I believe it will progress again. We will firmly engrave the resistance against unjust power and the strong will to protect democracy shown by former President Kim." Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung did not attend the event.
Party for National Innovation leader Cho Guk declared, "We will inherit the courage and determination of former President Kim, who eradicated the Hanahoe, and condemn the ‘Yoon Seok-yeol and Kim Geon-hee joint regime’ and prosecutorial dictatorship."
Kim Deok-ryong, chairman of the Kim Young-sam Democratic Center and memorial committee, said, "Former President Kim is asking whether current politicians from both ruling and opposition parties are behaving without shame. I hope today’s event becomes an occasion for the president, the government, the ruling party, and the opposition party to change significantly."
At the memorial service, the late president’s second son Kim Hyun-chul, chairman of the Kim Young-sam Presidential Foundation, and grandson Kim In-gyu, an administrative officer at the Presidential Office, welcomed mourners. From the government side, Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min attended, and from the Presidential Office, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Hong Cheol-ho was present.
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