Members of the ROTC Patriots Association march from Gangnam Station to Yangjae Station in January 2022, urging an investigation into election fraud, undeterred by the frigid weather with temperatures feeling like minus 20 degrees Celsius, holding up blue flags. [HMI Newspaper]

Twenty-two years ago, in 2004, I underwent a procedure to place three stents in my coronary arteries due to ischemic heart disease. I was doing well until 2019, when one more stent was added. On April 14th of this year, during my third procedure, two additional stents were inserted, bringing the total to six stents implanted in the coronary arteries of my heart.

The words of my attending physician after the procedure were shocking.

He told me that if my blood vessels were to become blocked again, there would be no further treatment options. He mentioned that since I don't smoke or drink, those aren't issues, but he even advised me to refrain from drinking coffee.

He stressed the importance of taking my prescribed medication diligently, avoiding overwork at all costs, exercising moderately, and paying particular attention to my diet.

He emphasized that while other parts of my body might be fine, any recurrence of heart problems would be fatal.

I had lived with a mindset of "I'll run myself to death if I have to" and worked tirelessly. However, hearing the doctor's words, I couldn't help but feel that I still need to live until the bad guys face judgment and the world becomes just and free. This is my honest and unavoidable sentiment.

Throughout my eighty years of life, I had never considered myself a patriot, nor had I worried about the country. It wasn't until January 7, 2017, that I joined a protest for the first time, taking to the streets to prevent the impeachment of President Park.

I went out of a sense of justice, feeling that this was wrong.

Since then, for ten years, I have fought diligently. I have spent sleepless nights in windswept squares and persevered through scorching summer heatwaves.

The past decade, spent with my fellow ROTC Patriots, through blizzards and downpours, on weekends and even weekdays, flashes before my eyes like a kaleidoscope.

Despite all this, seeing the current reality and considering my own condition with six stents in my heart, I am overwhelmed by the thought that there is still so much to do and I don't know how I will manage.

I feel conflicted, heeding the doctor's advice that I cannot push myself too hard at protest sites as I did in the past.

But still, can I just stand by and watch? While I find some solace in knowing that many fellow comrades, seniors and juniors, are still fighting hard, I cannot shake off this sense of frustration.

Nevertheless, I believe I must undertake the minimal struggles that are within my capacity until I am completely weakened and bedridden.

I intend to do my best by occasionally attending rallies of the ROTC Patriots Association and fulfilling the duties assigned to me by the Koltech Cultural Foundation, the People's Light Foundation, and the National Movement to Abolish Privilege. However, I ask for your understanding if my future activities are not as vigorous as they once were.

I am reaffirming my commitment to doing my utmost to establish our nation correctly until the day I can walk on my own two feet, trusting in the biblical promise that God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear. I am once again gathering my weary body and spirit.

◆ Dr. Kim Jae-soo

Doctor of Information Science. Former Head of the Agency for Defense Development. Former Visiting Professor at Kyonggi University. Served as the 5th and 6th President of the Republic of Korea ROTC Patriots Association. Currently, he is the Co-Standing Representative of the National Movement to Abolish Privilege and the Chairman of the People's Light Foundation.