中華民國外交部

H.E Young Sam, Kim, Former President of the Republic of Korea and his delegation arrived in Taiwan

H.E Kim Young Sam, Former President of the Republic of Korea, and Mrs. Kim will arrive in Taiwan for a five-day visit beginning January 25, 2007. They are here with an 18-member delegation at the invitation of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, to attend the event Towards a Global Forum on New Democracies. Themes such as transitional Justice, choosing a constitutional System, divisions between national and ethnic identities, and democratic development and the mass media will be discussed at the event. He will then be invited by President Chen Shui-bian to sign the Declaration with leaders from new democracies. Former President Kim and his delegation will visit Taroko National Park and Vataan, in Hualien, to experience tourist and cultural developments in Taiwan.
Mr. Kim, now 79, graduated with a Philosophy degree from Seoul National University in 1952. He was elected to the National Assembly in 1954 as a 26 year-old, and went on to serve nine terms. He still holds the record for being both the youngest and most senior lawmaker in the Republic of Korea’s National Assembly.
Mr. Kim devoted most of his life to the democratization of the Republic of Korea. In 1980’s, he was placed under house arrest and banned from political activities. Yet after a hunger strike, he gained the support of the Korean people and went on to make huge contributions to the democratic movement. He was eventually elected as the 14th President of the Republic of Korea in 1992, with 42 percent of the vote.
Mr. Kim is a good friend of Taiwan；this is his fifth visit and he cares greatly about Taiwan-Korea relations. His participation in the event Towards a Global Forum on New Democracies will further strengthen these relations and will benefit the democratic developments in Asia. （E）