Former president Kim Dae-jung also criticized the United Democratic Party, which eliminated his son Kim Hong-eop and close aide Park Jie-won from its nomination list, saying the party has a responsibility to rule out those implicated in corruption, but it also has a responsibility to redeem those who had been victimized by fabrications.

The two former presidents, who either created a political party and used it to become the country’s leader or changed a party to their needs after winning the top office, have both vowed to take personal revenge against those parties, launching political campaigns urging voters not to cast their ballots for their former parties. Even the old military dictators did not behave this way.

Kim Young-sam had supported President Lee Myung-bak since the GNP’s primary, and Kim Dae-jung orchestrated the merger of the Uri and Democratic parties. Both may feel disappointed that their efforts have gone unappreciated, but their latest actions are unworthy of their life-long contributions to Korea’s democracy. Most Koreans are saying that Kim Young-sam is angry about the fact that his son, Kim Hyun-chul, was eliminated from the GNP’s list of nominations, rather than concerned about a lack of faith within the conservative party.

Regarding the elimination of his son, Kim Dae-jung said the UDP’s actions were inconsistent since the party allowed Hong-eop to run for the National Assembly during the previous general elections. Does he really have no idea of how skeptical voters became after Hong-eop was nominated, even though he was found guilty of receiving tens of billions of won for granting political favors to businesses?

Voters are sorry for the words being uttered by two former leaders and pro-democracy activists who have apparently become enslaved by their personal interests.