Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijeong Vows to Uphold the Spirit of Roh Moo-hyun

16th Anniversary Memorial Service for President Roh Moo-hyun
Visit to Bongha Village Gravesite and Courtesy Call on Kwon Yangsook

Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijeong attended the 16th anniversary memorial service for the late former President Roh Moo-hyun held on the 23rd at Bongha Village in Gimhae, Gyeongnam, and offered incense. Provided by Gwangju City

Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijeong attended the 16th anniversary memorial service for the late former President Roh Moo-hyun, held on the 23rd at Bongha Village in Gimhae, Gyeongnam, to pay tribute to the former president.

Since the passing of President Roh Moo-hyun in 2009, Mayor Kang has visited Bongha Village almost every year to reflect on the vision of a "world where people live with dignity" that former President Roh aspired to.

Upon arriving at Bongha Village for the memorial service, Mayor Kang first visited former First Lady Kwon Yangsook at the presidential residence before attending the ceremony. After the memorial service, he visited President Roh Moo-hyun's gravesite to pay his respects.

Mayor Kang stated, "Prosecutorial reform to address political prosecutors is an urgent and unavoidable task. We cannot allow a Korea where the reality mirrors the film 'The King.' I hope the new administration will move toward a 'Roh Moo-hyun era without Roh Moo-hyun,' and a 'just Korea without political prosecutors.'"

Mayor Kang also said, "I will uphold the philosophy and spirit of former President Roh, who envisioned a world where people truly live, and steadily advance toward a more robust democracy that is alive and active in our daily lives."

This year's memorial service was solemnly held under the slogan, "The last bastion of democracy is the organized power of awakened citizens." The event proceeded with a memorial address by National Assembly Speaker Woo Wonshik, a commemorative performance by a citizens' choir, and welcoming remarks from Chairman Cha Seongsu.

Meanwhile, in Gwangju, an academic forum titled "Roh Moo-hyun and Gwangju, the Hub City of Asian Culture" is scheduled to be held in November in conjunction with the 10th anniversary celebration of the opening of the National Asia Culture Center.