15th Anniversary of Former President Roh Moo-hyun's Passing ... Ruling and Opposition Parties Gather

Around 5,000 Mourners Gather

The 15th anniversary memorial ceremony for former President Roh Moo-hyun was solemnly held on the 23rd at Bongha Village in Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do.

The ceremony, held at 2 p.m. on a special stage at the Ecological Culture Park in Bongha Village, was conducted under the theme "Today's Actions Are Tomorrow's History."

This theme is a phrase taken from a speech former President Roh delivered when he was invited to Sorbonne University in Paris, France, in December 2004.

Former President Moon Jaein and First Lady Kwon Yangsook are walking side by side to participate in the memorial service.
Photo by Lee Seryeong

The memorial was attended by former President Roh's wife Kwon Yangsook, his son Roh Gunho, former President Moon Jaein and his wife, Prime Minister Han Ducksoo, National Assembly Speaker Kim Jinpyo, Roh Moo-hyun Foundation Chairman Chung Sye-kyun, former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, former Prime Minister Han Myeongsook, and Presidential Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Hong Chulho, among others.

Also present were Governor Park Wansu, Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dongyeon, North Jeolla Province Special Self-Governing Province Governor Kim Kwanyeong, South Jeolla Province Governor Kim Youngrok, Gimhae Mayor Hong Taeyong, Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijeong, and former South Gyeongsang Province Governor Kim Kyungsoo, as well as other current and former local government heads.

Park Wansu, Governor of Gyeongnam Province (far right), is paying respects at the tomb of former President Roh Moo-hyun. Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government

Many political leaders from both the ruling and opposition parties attended, including Hwang Wooyeoh, interim leader of the People Power Party, Lee Jaemyung, leader of the Democratic Party, Cho Kuk, leader of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, Kim Junwoo, leader of the Justice Party, Lee Seokhyun, interim leader of the New Future Party, and Yoon Heesook, standing representative of the Progressive Party.

Not only from Gimhae but from all over the country, mourners gathered, and according to the foundation's estimate, about 5,000 people paid their respects to the former president. The ceremony was broadcast live on the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation's YouTube channel.

Citizens attending the 15th anniversary memorial service for former President Roh Moo-hyun are placing flowers at the incense altar.
Photo by Lee Seryeong

On this day, Foundation Chairman Chung Sye-kyun said, "Former President Roh worked for peace on the Korean Peninsula and the national interest of Korea during his five years in office, and with his insight into the future, he designed the future of Korea."

He added, "I believe you will join us on the journey to fulfill the dreams that former President Roh could not achieve," and appealed, "Please lend your strength for a world where politics of unity and coexistence, democracy of dialogue and compromise, and a society where principles and common sense prevail."