Lee Jae-myung, then Mayor of Seongnam, holds a press conference with Lee Hae-chan (background) in November 2016. [Photo = Provided by Seongnam City]

Former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan has passed away. Only heaven knows why he, who enjoyed power without fear and wealth without envy, met such a meaningless and suspicious death.

Some are framing his death as that of a great person, saying a star has fallen or passed away, and the government is making a fuss, calling it a state or social funeral.

Of course, it is right for the living to show consideration for the deceased by giving due respect to someone who served as Prime Minister. No one can argue with this.

However, I am writing this because clearly, the same South Korean citizens are treated worse than dead dogs while some receive unnecessary excessive honors, and the public is being deceived.

Let's be honest. Former President Chun Doo-hwan, who led South Korea's golden age, has been deceased for six years, yet he still cannot be buried in the country he defended and led, and is treated as a traitor.

Since the death of President Chun Doo-hwan, none of South Korea's politicians, legal professionals, or public officials have visited his wake. Did Chun Doo-hwan commit some great sin against South Korea? Honestly, Chun Doo-hwan is a person with greater achievements in saving and defending the nation.

It is a fact known to the whole world that even North Korea's Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il committed international crimes to kill President Chun Doo-hwan. Among South Koreans, those who are hated and targeted by North Korea are the greatest patriots and heroes. Presidents Syngman Rhee, Park Chung-hee, and Chun Doo-hwan are precisely those. Presidents Park Geun-hye and Yoon Suk-yeol, who were impeached by the leftists, are also patriots.

Yet, South Korea's leftist government treats patriotic former presidents, whom North Korea hates to the point of wanting them dead, as traitors and buries them. Instead, traitors who deny free South Korea and admire North Korea are revered as great heroes. This is the shameful reality of Korea.

Look at Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, and Moon Jae-in, who revived North Korea's ruined dictatorship and handed over national assets, placing nuclear bombs over the heads of the Korean people. They receive the highest honors, both in life and death.

Look at Lee Hae-chan, who died recently. He was criticized throughout his life for denying free South Korea and faithfully following North Korea's directives. Even in death, he is currently being treated like a kingmaker.

A country where patriots are treated as traitors and traitors receive the highest honors is unique on Earth. So, what can the children and youth growing up in this land learn to follow? Today's Korea is a country where there is nothing to learn except betrayal, selling out the nation for one's own sake.

Ignorant citizens who blindly followed the leftist anti-government demonstrations in the past, without knowing these things, proudly call themselves democratization fighters.

South Korea's present and future have been completely ruined by pro-North Korea and pro-China elements. Foolish conservative right-wingers couldn't even distinguish between feces and doenjang, and were either đồng ý với or exploited by the leftists. Today's South Korea is diligently heading towards the abyss of destruction, following the path of socialism paved by the late Lee Hae-chan during his lifetime.

I conclude this writing by thinking that the people of Nepal and Iran are far wiser than the Korean people.

◆ Advisor Kim Tae-san

Advisor to the Hankook Ilbo newspaper, former representative of a North Korean trading company in the Czech Republic. In Korea, he has worked as deputy director of the North Korean Society Research Institute, providing deep insights and experience on inter-Korean relations and North Korean issues.