Newly Discovered Diaries of Former President Kim Dae-jung Reveal Struggles During Exile

The diaries of former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung (김대중), titled 'Kim Dae-jung's Exile Diary' (한길사), were published on July 22, 2025. These diaries consist of 223 entries handwritten by Kim from August 3, 1972, to May 11, 1973, across six notebooks. It is believed that if he had continued writing until his abduction in Tokyo on August 8, 1973, there would be two additional volumes.
Until last summer, the existence of these diaries was unknown, as Kim had never mentioned them during his lifetime. His son, Kim Hong-gul (김홍걸), who is also the director of the Kim Dae-jung and Lee Hee-ho Memorial Foundation, shared that while sorting through Kim's belongings, a former aide discovered the notebooks in a shopping bag, preventing them from being discarded.
The diaries chronicle Kim's experiences and reflections during his time in exile in the United States and Japan, particularly after hearing about the declaration of the Yushin Constitution (유신 헌법) in South Korea. They express his deep emotional turmoil, as seen in an entry from October 17, 1972, where he wrote, "I write this diary with a heart that feels like it is being torn apart, for today our nation's democracy has even lost its form." Another poignant entry from January 19, 1973, reveals his anguish over being unable to help his family and comrades suffering back home.
These writings provide a significant insight into the political climate of the time and Kim's personal struggles as a leader fighting for democracy in South Korea.
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