[Breaking News] Former US President Jimmy Carter has died… aged 100

Former President Jimmy Carter, who served as the 39th President of the United States, died at his home in Plains, Georgia on the 29th (local time). 100 years old. The Carter Foundation said in a statement that the deceased passed away peacefully surrounded by his family. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC), a local American media outlet, the time of death was 3:45 p.m. that day.

Former President Carter has suffered from various health issues, including a battle with cancer in the past. In February last year, it was revealed that he had stopped receiving life-sustaining treatments and was receiving palliative care. He celebrated his 98th birthday in October 2022, setting the record for the longest-serving US president in history.

Former President Carter entered politics as a senator from Georgia in 1962, served as governor, and was elected president by defeating Republican President Gerald Ford in the 1976 presidential election. One of the signature achievements of his term was the "Camp David Accord," the symbol of Middle East peace negotiations. In 1978, he invited Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin to negotiate an agreement that led to the signing of a peace treaty between the two countries the following year.

However, he failed to overcome stagflation amid economic recession, and diplomatic failures such as the American embassy hostage-taking incident during the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979 led to his failure to seek re-election. He remained president for only one term, losing to Republican candidate Ronald Reagan in the 1980 presidential election.

After leaving office, former President Carter emerged as an even more successful former president by focusing on activities to promote peace and democracy, improve human rights, and eradicate disease. He founded the Carter Center and served as a mediator in international conflict zones and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. He also took the initiative to contribute to society by actively participating in the "Habitat Project" aimed at improving poor living conditions.

Former President Carter also had deep ties to the Korean Peninsula. During the military regime of Park Chung-hee, he raised questions about the human rights situation in Korea and called for the withdrawal of U.S. troops stationed in Korea, creating a conflict with the Park Chung-hee regime. During the first North Korean nuclear crisis in 1994, he visited Pyongyang and negotiated with President Kim Il-sung, paving the way for negotiations between North Korea and the United States. Since then, he has visited North Korea three times and helped promote peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Former President Carter was diagnosed with melanoma that had spread to his liver and brain in 2015, but declared a full recovery by the end of that year. He continued to struggle with health issues and underwent brain surgery in 2019 due to a fall.

His relationship with his wife, Rosalyn, whom he married in 1946, was famous. At the 75th wedding anniversary ceremony, he expressed his deep affection for his wife, saying: "She has been the ideal companion for me throughout my life." Mrs Rosalind died aged 96 in November last year. The couple had four children.

Former President Carter has expressed his wish to have a funeral in Washington DC and to be buried outside his home in Plains, his hometown, and his will will soon be executed.

Reporter Kim Hyeon-joo hjk@segye.com

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