Kim Dae Jung, 58, is South Korea’s leading dissident politician. After
spending 2 1/2 years in prison on a sedition charge, he went to the
United States in December 1982 for medical treatment. Last month he
announced that at the end of this year he would return to South Korea
from political exile. Kim recently spoke to Newsweek’s Paul Mooney in
New York about his return and the political situation in South Korea.
Excerpts:
Mooney: Why did you decide that you
would return to South Korea?
Kim: By the end of this year I will have been here for two years and I
have tried hard to support our people. But now it is time for me to go
back and join them in their struggle for the restoration of democracy.
Another reason is that I see a serious crisis in the Korean political
climate. More than 90 percent of our people don’t support the Chun Doo
Hwan regime, but they are reluctant to participate in the struggle for
democracy because they have become desperate and apolitical. This is
because of their disappointment with the dictatorship, the corruption
and the huge gap between haves and have-nots. Even though there are
many Chun opponents, we have not yet achieved our goal.
Of course Chun is not strong enough to crush us completely. There is a
stalemate between both sides. At the same time, some of our people are
becoming radical, even accepting communism or becoming anti-American,
because of their anger and disappointment with the present situation.
If the situation continues, within several years it will be beyond my
ability to handle it, and there will be no hope for the restoration of
democracy and peaceful reunification.
Q. But you are still on South Korea’s
list of banned politicians.
A.I can’t participate in political activities, and I don’t want to. But
even if I am banned I have the right to advocate human rights and
democracy. That is a basic right of all human beings. This should not
be considered a political activity; even if the government accuses me
of violating the law I will not obey. Government must exist to protect
our basic rights, not to destroy them.
Q. Some critics have said that you no
longer have a strong following in Korea. What is your response to that?
A. There is no freedom of speech in South Korea and so there is no real
public opinion. I don’t know how much of a following I have. But when I
see the government’s attitude, I think that I must be clearly supported
by our people. If not, why did the South Korean government expel me to
this country? Why do they not allow the mass media to mention my name?
Why must they threaten me not to come back? They try to intimidate me
by saying that they are going to rearrest me. If I do not have the
support of the people why should they do so? If Chun feels he has the
support of the people, why does he suppress public opinion? He can
allow the people freedom of speech and fair elections. These are the
requirements for democracy.
Q. One Korean official has said that
your return may lead to instability and perhaps even violence.
A. I definitely deny that assertion. First, if Chun does not arrest me
and he deals with me reasonably then there will be no problem. Second,
my message is nonviolent and moderate and so there is no reason that my
return should create tension or instability. I am willing to have a
dialogue with Chun. If we resolve the present deadlock between the
government and its democratic opponents then there will be stability
and reconciliation. Whether my return will result in the creation of
further tension or contribute to instability depends on Chu’s attitude
and not on myself. I am Korean and so it is quite natural that I return
to my country.
Q. Has the Reagan administration’s
policy of “quiet diplomacy” done anything to improve the situation in
South Korea?
A. Partly. As a result of Ronald Reagan’s visit to Seoul earlier this
year, (the government) released hundreds of political prisoners and
reinstated students and professors who were expelled from the campuses.
I recognize such contributions. But there has been no systematic
change. There is no possibility of real freedom of speech or fair
elections and there is no freedom of assembly. Democratic rights are
extremely restricted. There has been no real improvement.
Q.In your opinion, what should the
United States do?
A. Jimmy Carter’s policy was good. He openly advocated human rights and
democracy, but he failed to practice it effectively. Now the Reagan
administration, in a sense, has made a contribution to bringing about
some relaxation of suppression with quiet diplomacy. But that result is
somewhat cosmetic. So I urge the Reagan administration to practice both
open diplomacy and quiet diplomacy. Our people have developed the
impression that the American people only support dictators. They have
become somewhat anti-American.
We are not asking America to restore democracy in our stead. We are
asking America not to support military dictatorship and to give our
people moral support and show us that America supports our democracy,
as it did at the end of the Syngman Rhee era in 1960. People in the
Third World cannot help becoming apathetic or even anti-American.
American policy has greatly contributed to Soviet expansionism around
the world. I really don’t want to see America fail again.
Q. What is your answer to the argument
that full democracy is not yet possible in South Korea due to the
threat from the north?
A. The security issue can’t justify the present suppression. If we want
to establish strong national security, we need something to secure.
Security and democracy are inseparable. Over 30 years ago, even during
the Korean War, we enjoyed democratic freedoms. But now we have lost
them. Because of the enjoyment of those freedoms, during wartime our
people had a strong reason to fight against communism and we succeeded
in pushing the North Koreans back to the north with the cooperation of
U.S. troops. If we restore democracy we can expect the people’s full
support for the government. North Korea will have to give up its
ambition of conquering South Korea. Then we will have a sincere
dialogue with North Korea to establish peace on the Korean peninsula.
