In my twenties, I protested angainst the President Park's Government due to the dictatorship and tight control of Korean People's human rights by Mr.President Park.
At that time Mr.Kim Dae-Jung became the Presidential Candidate of New Democratic Party which was the opposition party then in the Korean President Election against Mr.President Park who was the President of Korea from the Republic Party.
Though I was on the list of ASP (Anti-government Studets' Power), they could not catch me due to my uncle's help who was in the government office and he loved me much to protect me.
I wrote articles on the "Front Line of Democracy"(Minjoo Jeonsun)which was weekly newspaper of the New Democratic Party criticizing the dictatorship and conspiracy for long-lasting power by the Republic Party and Mr.President Park in my nickname Lonely-Rock(͵äÛ).
I supported Mr.Kim for the next president.
On the one article on the Front Line of Democracy with the Head-Line "Korean people cannot or should not endure any more!," I pointed out the miserable state of the people under Mr.Park's dictatorship, and insisted ; "The president's election is the last chance to prevent the miserable Mr.Park's dictatorship and conspiracy of life-long power and I warn you there would be no more president's election until Mr.Park's last day if we cannot elect Mr.Kim in this election." which was almost same as Mr.Kim's President Election Campaign Speech made on April 18, 1971.
My article was on the party's weekly newspaper just on-e week before his campaign speech made in the historical site of the Jangchoong Park on April 18, 1971.
April 18, 1971 was Sunday, and I brought 1,500 sets of specially edited newspaper of the New Democartic Party to the Jangchoong Park early in the morning.
The 1,500 sets of the newspapers were the contribution fee for my writings until that time as I could not get any copy money for my articles from Minjoo-Jeonsun.
I sold the newspapers together with 2 of my classmates to the people who were gathering to the Mr.Kim's Presidet Election Campaign.
I sold out all newspapers 1,500 sets in 3 hours erning enough money for my lodging house fee and tuition fee together with all expenses required for the year,and as I was the college student of the Seoul National Universty came from remote province, I need more money than others from Seoul.
I was satisfied with the money that I made by selling the newspapers at 200 (20? not sure) Won per set, but when I counted the money of 3 ramyon(fried noodle newly introduced at the time in Korea) boxfull together with two of my friens who helped me all over the night was more than 1million(100,000? not sure due to too long time ago) Won because almost people gathering in the park did not get the changes after buying the newspaper and said ; "Hi, my friend! Keep the change, please!"
Eureka!!
After selling out all the papers, I came up to the podium to meet Mr.Kim the candidate of the president to cheer him up before his campaign speech.
I advised him, " Mr.President (I called him as president ..)! President Lincoln did not mobilize or utilize the Negroes who were slaves in American Civil War, and also Mahatma Gandhi did not mobilize or utilize his Indian peple either, though they fought against the enemy to free the slaves and people without enough power.
Please keep this in mind. You shoud prevent the people from radical street demonstration after your speech to them!
Last but not least, I insist you again to prevent the people from radical demonstration!!
I will support you forever if you do so as my request, otherwise I will leave from you forever!!
Wish you good luck!!" , and he promised.
But at the end of his campaign speech, he did not say anything to cool-down the stirred people to prevent the radical street demonstration, and all main streets in down-town Seoul were covered with his supporters making radical demonstration throwing stones and broken bricks against the policemen around them.
I turned away in disgust from Mr.Kim Dae Jung that time on until now.
But I have kept quiet for more than 38 years without commenting anything against him until June30, 2009, though I wished to shout to stop him mobilizing miserable people in the campaign to help them, because I have believed the people's power should not be mobilize when we fight for them.
I have had long and lonely travel alone all over the world visiting more than 60 countries; sometimes on business and sometimes for religious asterities with meditation.
I returned on-ly 2 years ago from my long and lonely journey thinking about the ways to save the miserable and poor people from poverty and dictatorship not on-ly in Korea but all over the world.
Even after returning from my long and lonely trip, I have kept meditation and studied the ways to help miserable and poor people who cannot get proper support from the government or employers.
I shouted against Mr.Kim Dae-Jung, "Keep Quiet!" with my writing on main newspapers and his party's internet bulletin board as he was stirring up people again to move and demonstrate against the dictatorship of Mr.Lee's government, and I worried too much about the people's blood that he was calling even when he did not inteded it.
(Please read my article dated June30, 2009 on the Chosun Ilbo Discussion Board for more details in Korean)
He might have seen the miserable lives of the "Fixed Timers" and poor people together with conspiracy of dictatorship by the Congress through the changes of Labour Code making all workers as "Fixed Timer", by revising media laws(7 laws including 3 alredy passed congress by force), and by changing the Korean Constitution for tight Congressional Dictatorship.
I thought he would stir up the "Fixed Timers" who are more than half of total number of workers reaching 52% of total work-forces numbering more than 8 million!
Also I thought he wish to stir up the people to fight against the changes of media related laws and revision of Korean Constitution for Congressional Dictatorship.
I worried about it calling much blood of the people to fight against their conspiracy.
I shouted "Keep Quiet, Mr. Kim!!" because of this even his objects would be right, I believed that we should not mobilize or utilize people's power anymore whom we are working and fight for.
I still believe that every problems and disputes in our nation should be solved in peaceful way not by radical demonstrations by stirring up the people if we wish to work and fight for them.
Mr. President Lincoln showed in Civil war; He freed the slaves in America without mobilizing or utilizing the slaves' power or requiring their blood even in worst war situations different from Mr.Kim Dae Jung in his contribution for the democracy and peace of Korean People.
Oh, my honourable and respectful teacher Mr.Kim Dae Jung!
Your objects have been always right, but I still don't know whether the ways of accomplishing your objects have been right or not!!
I will work for the meserable poor people and the "Fixed Timers(ºñÁ¤±ÔÁ÷)", and I will fight against the conspiracy of Congressional Dictatorship in Korea in my way different from yours even the objects woul be same as yours.
Please wait and see, Mr. Kim, if my dreams would come true or not!
He passed away on August 18, 2009, and he was my honorable and respectful teacher!
Be Peace and God's Grace with You- Kim, Dae Jung forever!!
By "Pure Soul" August 20, 2009 at 16 : 00
***Please be noted that the price of ÚÅñ«îñàÊ per set is not clear whether it was 20 Won or 200 Won and total amount counted was 1 million Won or 100,000 Won as it was too long long time ago.
(FYR : The entrance and tuition fee for Seoul National University was on-ly \8,900 won, and the price of rice in on-e big-bag (gamani) was on-ly \4,700 Won in 1969 when I entered SNU. The total amount that I made with 1,500 sets of ÚÅñ«îñàÊ 1 million Won looks too big when I read my writing above. Anyway, the amount I made with the newspaper was big enough for all expenses for me for the year including tuition fee. My memory is a little ambiguous. Sorry!