SEOUL — President Kim Dae-jung attributed the honor of his receiving the Nobel Peace Prize to the support the people have shown him in his struggle for democracy, human rights, inter-Korean peace, reconciliation and cooperation for the past 40 years.
Kim came to know he was bestowed the prize through a TV news at his residence together with First Lady Lee Hee-ho, and received a congratulatory message from opposition leader Lee Hoi-chang.
“I want to return all my honor to the people, and the citizens worldwide loving democracy and human rights,” the president said. in a statement ready by Chong Wa Dae spokesman Park Joon-young.
The president pledged to dedicate himself to furthering human rights, democracy, peace on the Korean peninsula and in the world.
Spokesman Park, in an answer to reporters, said, “The Nobel Prize is a glory on President Kim and the nation itself. It is one thing to receive the prize but it is another thing for President Kim to run the government.”
He said the government is tasked to engineer a soft landing of the Korean economy, in a reference to the recent nosedive of the stock market.
Spokesman Park said President Kim himself will go to Oslo on Dec. 10 to receive the prize personally.
Park said President Kim was not informed in advance before the formal announcent in Oslo Oct. 13.