President Kim's functions during ASEM

President Kim Dae-Jung attended or presided over 26 public functions during three days of Asia-Pacific Meeting(ASEM) from Oct. 19 to 21. This means that he worked for an average of 22 hours per day.

For one function, he spent an average of 50 minutes per event. From Oct. 19 through 20, he woke up early in the morning and worked until late 10 p. m. at night. Besides the ASEM activities, he held bilateral summits 13 times, taking five minutes on average for one meeting.

President Kim has enjoyed a boom for his winning the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize. The leaders of many ASEM member states rushed to hold one-on-one talks with the President and they accorded him lavish congratulations on his prize award. Chong Wa Dae officials said in this regard that Kim's winning the Nobel is not only his personal honor but also contributed to the enhancement of the national standing.

President Kim, taking advantage of this, was able to draw supports for Seoul's inter-Korean policies from the ASEM member countries. In particular, this rendered a vital role in inducing them to improving their relations with the North.

President Kim underscored on many occasions that the establishment of diplomatic ties with Pyongyang would contribute to helping the North resolving its economic difficulty, thereby conducive to building peace mechanism on the Korean peninsula. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar expressed his intention to set up diplomatic ties with the North during his talks with the President, after hearing Kim's explanations on the need for the North Korean relationship.

As the chairman of the ASEM, President Kim endeavored to build a framework of cooperation between the Asian and European regions. He tried to win the hearts of the ASEM participants, stressing that peace and mutual cooperation could be attained through narrowing the distance of their minds.

As a result of his dedicated effort, the ASEM came to adopt his initiative for the Trans-Eurasian Information Network, a super-highway telecommunications links or information silk road. The President, putting emphasis on addressing the digital divide, cut the figure as statesman committed to the balanced development between the two regions.

Choi Young-Mook ymook@donga.com