26 Quotes by South Korean authors

South Korean Flag

South Korean sayings carry the taut thread of han, layered sorrow tempered by resolve, and the binding warmth of jeong, communal care that persists in small acts. Their imagery is earthly: rice sprouts in muck, pine trees meeting winter winds, a kettle slowly coming to boil. Wit is dry, humility prized, ambition measured against obligation. Lines move with pansori’s cadence, patient, rising, favoring implication over flourish. Advice is shaped by history, city bustle beside temple quiet, and a steady faith in effort over spectacle.

See the complete list of authors from South Korea

"Unification is not our present goal. That is a future program"

Kim Dae Jung, Leader

Small: Kim Dae Jung

"American presence is, you know, the major cause of balance of power and the stability in this region"

Kim Dae Jung, Leader

Small: Kim Dae Jung

"So such an American troops presence in Korea in the South and Japan, total some 100,000 should stay there forever, even after unification of Korean peninsula"

Kim Dae Jung, Leader

Small: Kim Dae Jung

"So moderate is insisting that North Korea should open door to outside"

Kim Dae Jung, Leader

Small: Kim Dae Jung

"But such IMF pressure is very much helpful for me to push such a, you know, reform. So in this sense I think IMF is very much helpful for alien society"

Kim Dae Jung, Leader

Small: Kim Dae Jung

"You know, North Korea situation is far worse than East Germany, and South Korea is weaker than West Germany"

Kim Dae Jung, Leader

Small: Kim Dae Jung

"So in Asia I want to make - I want to succeed to make a model of what success, practicing democracy, and market economy. Then that will give a good influence over Asian countries"

Kim Dae Jung, Leader

Small: Kim Dae Jung

"So if North Korea continues present isolation, then with such economic difficulties the North Korean government must meet a very serious situation in the future"

Kim Dae Jung, Leader

Small: Kim Dae Jung

"And also, we are providing, you know, a nuclear power plant in the north, two light water systems, so some 4 or 5 billion dollars we are providing to meet with North Korean requests on the condition North Korea will not produce a nuclear weapon"

Kim Dae Jung, Leader

Small: Kim Dae Jung

"Well, that is very imperative to let North Korea open door to outside"

Kim Dae Jung, Leader

Small: Kim Dae Jung

"Unification is one thing, and stability in Northeast Asia is another thing"

Kim Dae Jung, Leader

Small: Kim Dae Jung

"So South Korean ability is very much limited to handle North Korean, you know, difficulties. So we don't want to see an immediate collapse of the North Korea regime"

Kim Dae Jung, Leader

Small: Kim Dae Jung

"To realize peace on the Korean peninsula, and to develop exchange, cooperation between both Koreas, they are the, you know, immediate target of our government"

Kim Dae Jung, Leader

Small: Kim Dae Jung

"There is some sign that North Korea is changing recently. There is ongoing successful negotiation to have a military talk to Pyongyang, which has been stopped for seven years"

Kim Dae Jung, Leader

Small: Kim Dae Jung

"So for mutual interest, I do want American presence in this region"

Kim Dae Jung, Leader

Small: Kim Dae Jung

"I think a major cause of present Asian economic difficulties that mainly come from, you know, lack of market economy"

Kim Dae Jung, Leader

Small: Kim Dae Jung

"So now we are pushing economic reform, bank reform and enterprise reform. So we can finish that reform this year, in September or October. Then our economy may be much more, you know, normalized"

Kim Dae Jung, Leader

Small: Kim Dae Jung

"If America would withdraw from South Korea, there could be a power struggle between such as China and Japan"

Kim Dae Jung, Leader

Small: Kim Dae Jung

"Let us make future generations remember us as proud ancestors just as, today, we remember our forefathers"

Roh Moo-hyun, Politician

"At times, we were forced to go through a history of dependence, unable to determine our own destiny. But today, we are at the threshold of a new turning point"

Roh Moo-hyun, Politician

"The Age of Northeast Asia is fast approaching"

Roh Moo-hyun, Politician

"We are a people who can bring about miracles if united"

Roh Moo-hyun, Politician

"If there is a doubt, I believe that I must put myself forward and undergo the people's judgment"

Roh Moo-hyun, Politician

"Even if we encounter some shameful events in the past, we shouldn't avoid or hide them"

Roh Moo-hyun, Politician

"We must regain the confidence and drive to decide our own destiny"

Roh Moo-hyun, Politician

"I reached a situation in which I cannot conduct the presidency"

Roh Moo-hyun, Politician