New book revisits Kim Dae-jung's prison struggles through wife’s notes
Copies of the new book "Kim Dae-jung and Lee Hee-ho Prison Records" are displayed during a press conference in Seoul, March 14. Yonhap
Handwritten letters released to mark 46th anniversary of May 18 Democratizaton Movement
Previously unpublished records kept by Lee Hee-ho (1922-2019) — wife and political partner of former President Kim Dae-jung (1924-2009) — have been released in book form for the first time. The collection also includes prison memoirs written by Kim documenting the hardships he endured under Korea’s military regimes.
The Kim Dae-jung Presidential Library and Museum at Yonsei University held a press conference Thursday in Seoul’s Mapo District to introduce the newly published book, “Kim Dae-jung and Lee Hee-ho Prison Records,” released to mark the 46th anniversary of the May 18 Democratizaton Movement, which included protests against the coup of Chun Doo-hwan in 1980.
The book documents prison writings, trial records and other materials from 1976 to 1982, when Kim was jailed over the March 1 Declaration of Democratization against the Park Chung-hee regime and the so-called sedition conspiracy case.
At the time, Kim was already suffering severe aftereffects from a suspicious car accident that occurred shortly after the 1971 presidential election, a fierce race between Kim and incumbent President Park. Despite his condition, Kim was denied proper treatment and subjected to continued persecution, including for alleged assassination attempts.
The collection includes Kim’s famous “nail letters,” which were first partially revealed in 2022. Because political prisoners under the military dictatorship were not allowed free use of paper and pens — and even family visits were monitored — Kim reportedly used a nail to press letters into paper and secretly passed them to Lee during visits.
Also published for the first time are handwritten memos by Lee, who summarized domestic and international news for Kim during their brief prison visits, since he was unable to access newspapers or broadcasts.
Kim Dae-jung, right, and his wife Lee Hee-ho stand in front of a calendar marked with the dates of his confinement, Dec. 8, 1979, the day they were notified that Kim's 263-day house arrest had been lifted. Courtesy of Kim Dae Jung Peace Center
Library director Park Myung-lim described the notes as “materials that reveal Lee’s sharp and sophisticated analysis.”
The book also contains letters written by the U.S. educated Lee, who was fluent in English, to overseas political leaders and international human rights organizations, including then-U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, requesting support for Kim’s release.
After Kim was sentenced to prison, Lee also wrote directly to prison officials, the justice minister and then-President Park demanding better treatment for her husband.
Explaining why the library chose to release extensive research materials related to Lee, Park said, “During Kim’s years in prison, the name Lee Hee-ho was inseparable from his life.”
He added, “Lee herself was one of Korea’s major human rights activists, and the journey she shared with Kim is also a deeply moving human story.”
Kim’s third son, Hong-gul, also attended the press conference.
Looking at the book’s purple cover, he recalled how his mother used to gather with families of imprisoned democracy activists to make and distribute purple scarves.
“I’m grateful these historical records have been preserved and published instead of being forgotten,” he said.
Kim Eon-ho, head of publishing company Hangilsa, which previously published Kim Dae-jung’s oral memoirs and exile diaries, said the former president deserves to be regarded as not simply as a politician, but as a “political thinker.”
“Politics today is extremely turbulent,” he added, “but this book can serve as a valuable guide toward building a more idealistic and vibrant political culture.”
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.