This struggle of the people of Kwangju to redress the wrongs of the massacre is one of the most beautiful pages of Korean history. The punishment meted out to people who held the country's topmost positions was one of the first such examples in Asia. It is unfortunate that Kim Dae-jung has forgotten his priorities. As a result, this amnesty will not be seen as an act of reconciliation but of capitulation to the perpetrators of violence. The citizens who voted for him will most likely see it as an unfriendly act and a betrayal of the trust that they have placed in him.
Reconciliation requires transformation.
The south Korean people's struggle has sought to transform the totalitarian culture that has been imposed on them. Kim Dae-jung has fought for a long time for such a transformation. However, the present agreement to pardon these two criminals will be seen by many observers as the beginning of Kim Dae-jung's compromise with authoritarianism. Reconciliation requires repentance though. At no stage, however, have the two former presidents repented of their extremely serious crimes, including corruption relating to vast sums of money.