Rival parties gather to commemorate late President Roh Moo-hyun

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Rival parties gather to commemorate late President Roh Moo-hyun

Former President Moon Jae-in, center right, former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, Democratic Party Chairman Lee Jae-myung and other political figures pay their respects at the grave of late President Roh Moo-hyun in Bongha Village, South Gyeongsang, on Tuesday. Politicians across party lines were among thousands of people who took part in a ceremony commemorating the 14th anniversary of the death of Roh. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Former President Moon Jae-in, center right, former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, Democratic Party Chairman Lee Jae-myung and other political figures pay their respects at the grave of late President Roh Moo-hyun in Bongha Village, South Gyeongsang, on Tuesday. Politicians across party lines were among thousands of people who took part in a ceremony commemorating the 14th anniversary of the death of Roh. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

 
Thousands of people, including politicians across party lines, gathered in Bongha Village, South Gyeongsang, on Tuesday to commemorate the 14th anniversary of the death of liberal President Roh Moo-hyun, who has become a figure of political unity.  
 
The ceremony, hosted annually by the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, was attended by Yoon Suk Yeol administration officials, including Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo and lawmakers of rival parties including People Power Party (PPP) head Kim Gi-hyeon and Democratic Party (DP) chief Lee Jae-myung.
 
Former President Moon Jae-in and his wife Kim Jung-sook, Kwon Yang-sook, widow of late President Roh, and their son Roh Gun-ho and daughter Roh Jeong-yeon, former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, head of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, and former liberal lawmaker Lee Hae-chan also attended.
 
President Yoon sent a wreath of flowers through Lee Jin-bok, senior presidential secretary for political affairs, who attended the memorial service in his stead to offer condolences to Roh's family.  
 
Roh served as president from 2003 to 2008. He killed himself by jumping from a cliff in his hometown of Bongha Village in Gimhae on May 23, 2009, 24 days after being questioned by prosecutors about a bribery scandal implicating his relatives and 15 months after leaving the Blue House.  
 
The foundation estimated that 7,000 people visited Bongha Village, the site of his memorial hall and grave, to commemorate Roh on Tuesday, including some 4,500 people who attended the ceremony.  
 
The theme of this year's ceremony was, "History is slow, but progresses," chosen by the foundation to reflect a saying by Roh.  
 
"The national task that former President Roh worked hardest on was balanced national development," said Prime Minister Han in his remarks at the ceremony. "He dreamed of a Republic of Korea where everyone, everywhere, can prosper together."
 
Han previously served as prime minister under the Roh administration from 2007 to 2008.
 
"We will revitalize the local economy through transferring central authority to provinces and bold regulatory reforms and investments, and vigorously open a local era where anywhere in Korea is a good place to live, as envisioned by the president," Han added.  
 
"President Roh Moo-hyun was the president of all people, not just a particular ideology or political faction," said foundation head Chung.  
 
Former President Moon Jae-in, center, and his wife Kim Jung-sook, and politicians across party lines attend a ceremony commemorating the 14th anniversary of the death of liberal President Roh Moo-hyun in Bongha Village, South Gyeongsang, attended by thousands of people. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Former President Moon Jae-in, center, and his wife Kim Jung-sook, and politicians across party lines attend a ceremony commemorating the 14th anniversary of the death of liberal President Roh Moo-hyun in Bongha Village, South Gyeongsang, attended by thousands of people. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Ahead of the ceremony, former President Moon and his wife Kim, Chung, DP Chairman Lee, National Assembly Speaker Kim and other liberal figures had a lunch meeting with former first lady Kwon.  
 
Moon, Roh's former chief of staff and longtime friend, attended the ceremony last year for the first time in five years after his presidential term ended.  
 
The occasion for remembrance didn't stop political bickering between the opposing parties, however.  
 
"Democracy has regressed again, and the historical progress that former President Roh dreamed of has halted and seems to have temporarily retreated into the past," DP chief Lee told reporters. "Democracy is something everyone can enjoy, but not something just anyone can establish."
 
He added, "Perhaps that is why the longing for former President Roh is so much greater in this unfortunate reality."
 
In June 2022, first lady Kim Keon-hee called on Roh's wife Kwon at her home in Bongha Village, becoming the first spouse of a conservative president to visit the grave of the liberal president.
 
President Yoon has mentioned several times in the past his respect for the late Roh.
 
Yoon also visited Bongha Village in November 2021 during his campaign.  
 

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]
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