A Look at "Kim Dae-jung the Man" Through His Exile Diary and Prison Notes

Exhibition "Records of the Inner Self" to Open in Seoul

A special exhibition tracing the records left by former President Kim Dae-jung will open in Seoul.

Poster for the exhibition "Inner Records" / Korea Democracy Foundation.

The Korea Democracy Foundation and the Kim Dae-jung Nobel Peace Prize Memorial Hall announced on Oct. 26 that the exhibition "Records of the Inner Self" will run at the Democratization Movement Memorial Hall from Oct. 27 through Nov. 29. It is part of the "K-Museum Regional Traveling Exhibition and Tour Support Program," hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the Korean Museum Association. The exhibition follows its run at the Kim Dae-jung Nobel Peace Prize Memorial Hall in Mokpo, which ended on Oct. 16.

The exhibition explores how former President Kim maintained his convictions through his writings despite facing exile, imprisonment and house arrest amid the repression of the Yushin dictatorship and military regimes. Visitors can learn not only about his political achievements but also about his personal struggles and reflections in the context of his times. Key items on display include his "Exile Diary," written overseas in 1972-1973; notes taken by his wife, Lee Hee-ho, recording his words while he was imprisoned; correspondence related to U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy; and an opinion piece he contributed to a U.S. newspaper in 1984.

Moon Guk-ju, chair of the Korea Democracy Foundation, said, "It is meaningful to encounter President Kim's records in Namyeong-dong, a place that bears the history of dictatorship and state violence he fought against throughout his life." He added, "I hope this will be an opportunity for citizens, especially younger generations, to reflect on the history of Korea's democracy movement and the meaning of democracy today."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.