The life of Roh Moo-hyun, 1946-2009
Born to a farmer’s family in Bongha Village in Gimhae, South
Gyeongsang Province
February 1959
Graduates from Daechang Elementary School
February 1963
Graduates from
Jinyeong Middle School
February 1966
Graduates from Busan Commercial High School
1968 - 1971
Serves in the military
January 1973
Marries Kwon
Yang-sook
February 1975
Passes the bar exam
September 1977
Appointed as a judge at the Daejeon District Court
May 1978
Starts working as a
lawyer in Busan
October 1981
Takes on the “Burim Case,” defending students accused of communist sympathies - it inspires him to become a human rights lawyer
September 1987
Orders a suspension of his law practice to investigate the death of a worker during a protest
April 1988
Becomes a member of Korea’s 13th National Assembly
1988
Emerges as a “star politician” in televised hearings, in which he questions former dictator Chun Doo Hwan
March 1989
Resigns from the National Assembly
September 1991
Takes on the post of spokesman of the United Democratic Party
June 1995
Runs for Busan mayor, but fails
2000 - 2001
Becomes minister of maritime affairs and fisheries
February 2003
Wins a nail-biting election to become the Republic of Korea’s 9th president
March 2004
Suspended from his duties when the National Assembly passes an impeachment bill on charges of illegal campaigning ahead of the parliamentary election
May 2004
Escapes impeachment when the Constitutional Court rejects the bill
October 2007
Participates in inter-Korean summit
February 2008
Returns to Bongha
Village after finishing his presidential term
December 2008
Brother Roh Gun-pyeong investigated by prosecutors for corruption
April 2009
Roh’s wife, son Gun-ho, and Roh himself summoned for questioning in widening bribery scandal
May 23, 2009
Commits suicide,
jumping off a cliff near his home
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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