Seoul: Kim Hong-up, the second son of Nobel laureate and former President Kim Dae-jung, died on Wednesday at the age of 75. The former lawmaker had been serving as the chairman of the Kim Dae-jung Peace Center since 2019 and was battling a chronic illness, as confirmed by an official from the institution.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim Hong-up was born in 1950 and played a significant role as a political partner to his father, who was a prominent figure in South Korea's pro-democracy movement during a time of military oppression. He was instrumental in raising international awareness about the country's struggle for democracy and contributed to his father's victory in the 1997 presidential election. However, his career was not without controversy, as he faced imprisonment for bribery during his father's time in office.
After the passing of Kim Dae-jung in 2009, Kim Hong-up established the Kim Dae-jung Foundation to honor his father's legacy. An official at the Kim Dae-jung Peace Center remarked that Kim Hong-up was recognized as a devoted son who shared in his father's challenges and stood as a steadfast partner in the journey toward democracy.
The funeral for Kim Hong-up will be conducted as a family affair and will be co-hosted by the Kim Dae-jung Peace Center and the Kim Dae-jung Foundation.