President Barack Obama on Tuesday expressed condolences to the South Korean people and the family of Kim Dai-jung, praising the former president for his “tireless efforts” to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula. “I was saddened at the passing of former President Kim Dae-jung of the Republic of Korea, a courageous champion of democracy and human rights,” Obama said in a statement released by the White House. “President Kim risked his life to build and lead a political movement that played a crucial role in establishing a dynamic democratic system in the Republic of Korea,” Obama wrote. “His service to his country, his tireless efforts to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula, and his personal sacrifices on behalf of freedom are inspirational and should never be forgotten.” Kim died at age 85 earlier on Tuesday after being hospitalized over the past month for pneumonia and related complications.
