Lee Jun-seok Visits Bongha Village: "I Will Stop Defamation of President Roh Moo-hyun"

"It Became an Opportunity to Internalize Roh Moo-hyun's Values"

Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, visited Bongha Village in Jinyeong-eup, Gimhae-si, Gyeongsangnam-do on the afternoon of the 25th. After paying respects at the tomb of former President Roh Moo-hyun and meeting with Mrs. Kwon Yang-sook, he held an interview with the press.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, promised to meet Mrs. Kwon Yang-sook and ensure that no disparaging remarks about the late former President Roh Moo-hyun would be made within the party going forward.

On the afternoon of the 25th, Lee visited Bongha Village in Jinyeong-eup, Gimhae City, Gyeongnam Province, to pay respects at the tomb of former President Roh and then met with Mrs. Kwon. At a meeting with reporters after the visit, he said, "I told Mrs. Kwon that 'from now on, our party will not use disparagement of former President Roh as a political tool,'" adding, "'If such remarks arise close to an election, I will restrain them as the party leader.'"

He continued, "Just as I pledged in Gwangju to prevent any disparagement related to the May 18 Democratic Uprising from happening again, attacks on former President Roh for political reasons must disappear."

He went on, "I shared with Mrs. Kwon a small memory I have with former President Roh," saying, "Shortly after his inauguration, he selected me as a government-funded scholarship student and awarded me a scholarship certificate. I brought a photo of that moment on my tablet today and showed it to Mrs. Kwon, who also remembered that time."

Regarding Mrs. Kwon's reaction, he said, "She found it amusing to know about that history," and "Above all, I felt her expectations for political development."

This was Lee’s first visit to Bongha Village. About this visit, he stated, "Many people are already familiar with the values and sayings that former President Roh tried to establish, even without coming here," adding, "But coming here became an opportunity to internalize those things (former President Roh’s values)."