Comments on: Former South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung Passes Away at Age 83

By: USinKorea

USinKorea — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 03:52:18 +0000

Can anybody think of a post-colonial nation other than South Korea that ended up seeing its democracy fighters actually turn out to be for real democracy?

I can only come up with India…and due to its flirtation with communism…with what little I know about India…which isn't much….I'm not sure how much it fits….

By: DPRK Studies

DPRK Studies — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:48:33 +0000

Former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung Dead at 83…

Former President Kim Dae-jung (김대중) died today at age 83 (85 by Korean reckoning) of complications related to pneumonia. Kim was the Republic of Korea present from 1998 to 2003.
Although Kim had a long political career as an opposition leader ……

By: BS-Buster

BS-Buster — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:33:21 +0000

Was never a big fan of him but like GI said, he is a mixed bag.

I don't think anyone can make a real statement linking Lee Myung-bak to this man's death. Seriously, he died of what is essentially complications during old age.

By: GI Korea

GI Korea — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:50:17 +0000

Oops, thanks. I fixed the post.

By: Uberdog

Uberdog — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:29:22 +0000

Question: Why is his head so big. look at pic #1. His head is half his body.

By: JoeC

JoeC — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:38:48 +0000

I guess Kim Jung Il must be giving much more thought to his own mortality and legacy after seeing his closet partners for unification, presidents Roh and Kim, pass away in such quick succession.

By: The Sanity Inspector

The Sanity Inspector — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:27:58 +0000

Leftist gullibility aside, he's the closest thing to a genuine hero yet produced by South Korean politics, so far as I can tell.

By: USinKorea

USinKorea — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:25:30 +0000

A real question here —- Can you think of other post-colonial nations that have fared like South Korea and with dissident leaders like Kim Dae-Jung and Kim Young Sam?

India, perhaps…

President Kim's death to me highlighted this area — that he is probably one of only a very few "democracy" advocates who was actually advocating real democracy and who ruled using real democracy when he finally got power in his hands. I'd say Kim Young-Sam also falls in this category.

I think the general rule of thumb in the post-colonial world was that the democracy advocates turned out to be simply fighting for their position on the throne of despotism and/or crippling corruption…

India is the only name that jumps out at me right away in trying to think of other examples similar to South Korea…

By: corsair the pirate

corsair the pirate — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 09:12:57 +0000

I think you mean $500,000,000. Half a million wouldn't have been that much.