Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in has released his memoirs, which have quickly become a bestseller in South Korea despite their hefty 650-page length. However, the reception of the book has been polarized in the country, with conservatives and progressives offering both harsh criticism and lavish praise.
Moon’s memoir reveals interesting new information, such as the exchange of 38 letters with North Korean President Kim Jong Un. These letters showcased Kim’s respect and concern for Moon and the people of South Korea during the pandemic. Moon also shared a letter from Kim expressing continued respect even after Moon’s presidency ended. Despite deteriorating relations between North Korea and South Korea and the U.S., Kim maintained a friendly correspondence with Moon.
The book also highlights Kim’s expressed commitment to denuclearization and his emotional desires, such as visiting Yeonpyeong Island to console its residents following a past incident. Moon’s interactions with Kim, including urging the setup of a hotline and negotiations over the location of the U.S.-North Korea summit, are detailed in the memoir.
Moon believes in Kim’s sincerity towards denuclearization and acknowledges the improvement in inter-Korean and U.S.-North Korea relations. However, he also criticizes Pyongyang’s behavior, calling for a change in their aggressive tactics and expressing disappointment in North Korea’s actions like the bombing of the Inter-Korean Liaison Office.
Moon’s memoir offers insights into his diplomatic efforts and interactions with Kim and Trump. He acknowledges his role as a bridge between North Korea and the U.S., although he faces criticism from South Korean conservatives for being too lenient towards Kim. The book also hints at potential future developments in North Korea and the importance of learning from past successes and failures.
Moon’s memoir paints a complex picture of his interactions with Kim and sheds light on the challenges and opportunities in inter-Korean relations. With ongoing geopolitical changes, the lessons from Moon Jae-in’s experiences will likely continue to be relevant in the future.
ISOZAKI Atsuhito is a professor at Keio University.