Democratic Party: "National Unity and Prosecution Reform in the Spirit of Roh Moo-hyun"

On the 22nd, ahead of the 11th anniversary of the passing of former President Roh Moo-hyun, a portrait of the late president was hung in the Democratic Party of Korea's representative meeting room at the National Assembly. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] The Democratic Party of Korea has expressed its intention to promote national unity and prosecutorial reform in the spirit of former President Roh Moo-hyun.

Kim Tae-nyeon, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said at the Supreme Council meeting on the 22nd, "There is a face that appears in the blue sky around this time every year," adding, "Former President Roh wished for national unity more than anyone else. He fought against politics of division and confrontation throughout his life."

He continued, "That unfinished challenge has been passed on to the Democratic Party. We will strive even harder to realize national unity in the spirit of Roh Moo-hyun."

The Democratic Party also emphasized the need to investigate allegations of fabrication in the illegal political funds case involving former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook, who worked with former President Roh. Park Joo-min, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, said, "Tomorrow, on the 11th anniversary of former President Roh's passing, we plan to visit Bongha Village with the elected officials," adding, "Looking at the situation overcoming COVID-19, I think former President Roh would be very proud. I believe the most important task for the 21st National Assembly is prosecutorial reform."

He added, "Regarding (the late) Han Man-ho, who testified that he gave bribes to former Prime Minister Han but later retracted his statement, out of more than 70 summons investigations, only 5 left records," and said, "We must resolve the question of whether the 68 summons investigations without records were lawful. Strongly pushing forward laws like prosecutorial reform, which was blocked in the 20th National Assembly, is carrying on President Roh Moo-hyun's will."

Lee Kwang-jae, a Democratic Party member-elect who served as a secretary to former President Roh, appeared on KBS Radio's 'Kim Kyung-rae's Strongest Current Affairs' on the same day and said, "The issues raised by former President Roh at the time are unfamiliar topics, but as time passes, they become part of our tasks, so we think of President Roh more and often watch videos from that time whenever there is an issue," adding, "When there are issues between Korea and Japan, we watch his Dokdo speech, and when there are issues between the U.S. and China, we watch videos from that time. The problems and tasks raised by President Roh are still ongoing, so I think that's why."

In a special video released on YouTube on the 8th commemorating the 11th anniversary of former President Roh's passing, Lee said, "Roh Moo-hyun and President Moon Jae-in are like King Taejong, dismantling the existing order and creating new tasks," and added, "Now it is time for the era of King Sejong to come." Regarding this, he said on the same day, "'I thought I would be the first car of the new era, but I am becoming the youngest of the old era. So if I quickly solve the problems that arise while I am here and pave the way, my successors will be able to drive the country splendidly on the highway. I want to clean up the burden and leave,' he often said," adding, "This time, the Democratic Party has an absolute majority of seats. I think that if we overcome the remaining two years and the upcoming five years and the COVID-19 crisis well, Korea will welcome a new era of full bloom. I hold this earnest hope."

The 11th anniversary memorial service for former President Roh will be held at 11 a.m. on the 23rd at the presidential tomb in Bongha Village, Gimhae, Gyeongnam Province. Family members, executives and members of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, representatives of political parties, and government officials are expected to attend. This memorial service will be held with a minimized scale of about 100 people as part of social distancing measures against COVID-19. The official memorial address will be read by Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.