In my opinion Kim Young-sam never got the credit he deserved for his time as Korean President. First of all he was able to punish the past military dictators by charging with treason and putting them on trial before ultimately pardoning them which arguably maintained national unity. He also got stuck with the task of handling the Asian Financial Crisis and accepting the bail out loan from the International Monetary Fund. Both of these issues were widely unpopular, but history has shown that the way Kim Young-sam handled them was correct and hopefully with his passing people will better remember the great things he accomplished as President:
Kim Young-sam
The nation – political supporters and detractors alike – mourned the death of former President Kim Young-sam, an icon of Korea’s democracy movement, who passed away Sunday at age 87.
Kim died at 12:21 a.m. at Seoul National University Hospital after suffering from septicemia, or severe blood infection, and acute heart failure, hospital chief Oh Byung-Hee said in a press briefing.
He had been hospitalized since Thursday with a high fever.
Kim was previously hospitalized for 18 months from April 2013 to October 2014 for stroke and pneumonia.
A native of Geoje Island in South Gyeongsang, Kim served as the first elected civilian president of Korea from 1993 to 1998, following decades of military rule.
Former leaders of the country and current politicians flocked to the former president’s wake at SNU Hospital in Jongno District, central Seoul, on Sunday, to grieve his passing and recall his legacy of helping to build a more democratic nation.
Former Prime Minister Kim Jong-pil – who was at times a rival and at times an ally to President Kim- arrived at the wake in a wheelchair. “He will forever be remembered in the hearts of the people as a leader of convictions,” he said. [Joong Ang Ilbo]
