Political Leaders Pay Tribute to late President Roh

A citizen looks at a mural of late President Roh Moo-hyun in Bongha Village in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, on May 22, 2025, a day before the memorial marking the 16th anniversary of his passing. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)

SEOUL, May 23 (Korea Bizwire) — Heavyweight politicians from both liberal and conservative parties, including Democratic Party (DP) presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, on Friday paid their respects to late former President Roh Moo-hyun.

The memorial service was held to mark the 16th anniversary of the death of Roh in the southeastern rural village of Bongha, where Roh lived after his retirement, with the presidential election just 11 days away.

Among the participants were Lee Jun-seok, presidential candidate of the conservative minor New Reform Party, and party officials, including Rep. Kim Yong-tae, interim leader of the conservative People Power Party (PPP), and DP floor leader Park Chan-dae.

“I will build a true Korea — a world where people can truly live, a country where the people are the owners and a nation where the people are happy,” the DP’s Lee wrote in a guestbook after paying his respects.

On the sidelines, the DP’s Lee also met with former President Moon Jae-in, who served as a key presidential secretary under Roh’s administration.

The move by the DP’s Lee appears to be part of his efforts to rally support from the liberal bloc by strengthening ties with the pro-Moon and pro-Roh factions and highlighting his legitimacy as a successor to previous liberal administrations.

Roh, a liberal politician who ran the country from 2003 to 2008, leaped to his death from a cliff behind his retirement home 15 years ago amid a corruption investigation involving his family and aides.

(Yonhap)