Professor Shinoda Donates Kim Dae-jung Letters, Covered by KBS and Mainichi Shimbun

The donation of letters by Professor Tomohito Shinoda of the International University of Japan has been featured in both South Korea’s KBS and Japan’s Mainichi Shimbun.

The letters were originally sent in 1984 by former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung to U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy during Kim’s exile in the United States. They include messages describing the situation of democracy and human rights in South Korea and appeals for international support.

The materials were preserved for over four decades by Professor Shinoda, who worked in Senator Kennedy’s office at the time. Recognizing their historical significance, he decided to donate them to the Kim Dae-jung Nobel Peace Prize Memorial Hall in Mokpo, South Korea.

Kim Dae-jung later played a key role in South Korea’s democratization, was elected president in 1997, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000, including for his efforts toward the first inter-Korean summit.

According to the memorial hall, the letters are valuable historical records demonstrating Kim’s continued commitment to democracy even during his exile. The materials are scheduled to be exhibited to the public in June.

KBS News (via NAVER)
https://n.news.naver.com/article/056/0012155067