Gone but Not Forgotten
By Cho Jae-hyon
Staff Reporter
The nation lost a spiritual leader and two former presidents in 2009. The sense of loss still resonates among the Korean people.
Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan, a source of comfort for the people during the authoritarian regimes of the 1960-1980s, passed away on Feb. 16. He was not only a beloved spiritual leader but a fearless advocate of democracy.
Former President Roh Moo-hyun left us abruptly and unexpectedly. He was an upstanding leader who challenged the privilege of the few. He made the presidency of Korea far less authoritarian. But many of his policies and his choice of combative words proved divisive. Roh was unpopular while in office. Still, millions of people paid their respects across the nation.
Less than three months after Roh's death, the nation had to bid farewell to Kim Dae-jung, the consolidator of democracy in the country and winner of the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize for his Sunshine Policy of reconciliation with the North. Kim was a lifetime fighter against military dictatorships and for democracy. Kim, who survived a death sentence, torture, assassination attempts and countless arrests, will be remembered as a leader who never gave up his convictions for freedom and reconciliation despite all kinds of ordeals.
The nation also lost some other notable figures in the entertainment, sports, academic and business fields. Among them were climber Ko Mi-young, who went missing after a fall from a cliff in the Himalayas; English professor and columnist Chang Young-hee, who touched many hearts with her warm and inspiring essays and columns; and actress Jang Jin-young, who lost a battle against stomach cancer. Lee Hu-rak, former head of state intelligence agency known for a secret trip to North Korea in 1972 to broker a historic inter-Korean agreement, also died on Oct. 31.
We also said goodbye to Daul Kim, who was regarded as one of the most beautiful models in the world; actor Lee Gwang-gi's only son, who died from H1N1 influenza A; and former Asian Games swimming gold medalist Cho Oh-ryun.