Lee Gaeho Pays Tribute at Kim Daejung's Grave Ahead of 16th Anniversary of Passing

"Learning Leadership from Overcoming the IMF Crisis
to Address Underdevelopment in South Jeolla"

Lee Gaeho, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is paying respects at the grave site ahead of the death anniversary of the late President Kim Daejung on the morning of the 13th. Photo by Lee Gaeho's office

Lee Gaeho, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea representing Damyang, Hampyeong, Yeonggwang, and Jangseong in South Jeolla Province, visited the National Cemetery in Seoul on the morning of the 13th to pay respects at the grave of the late President Kim Daejung (DJ).

On this day, ahead of the 16th anniversary of President Kim Daejung's passing (August 18), Lee offered incense and observed a moment of silence in front of the former president's grave, honoring his legacy.

Lee has visited Kim's birthplace in Hauido, Sinan, or attended commemorative events every year on the anniversary of Kim's death. However, for this 16th anniversary, he paid his respects in advance due to an overseas business trip that will prevent him from attending the memorial ceremony on the actual day.

In January 1998, Lee was dispatched to serve as an administrative officer in the political affairs division of the "Kim Daejung Presidential Transition Committee" while working as a local autonomy operations officer at the former Ministry of Home Affairs. While presidential transition committees have become common in recent years, at that time, the Kim Daejung administration's transition committee was the first of its kind and has since served as a precedent.

After paying his respects, Lee stated, "My experience as an administrative officer for the 'Kim Daejung Presidential Transition Committee' is more valuable to me than my four terms as a National Assembly member or my tenure as Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs," adding, "I hope to learn from President Kim's leadership in overcoming the 1998 IMF crisis to help overcome the underdevelopment currently facing South Jeolla and to fulfill my duty as a politician to protect the lives of local residents."