"14 Years Since His Passing, the Prosecutor's Office Has Changed"... Opposition Lawmakers Commemorate Roh

On the 23rd, marking the 14th anniversary of the passing of former President Roh Moo-hyun, members of the Democratic Party of Korea each posted memorial messages on social networking services (SNS) to pay tribute to the late president. Some lawmakers shared messages criticizing the current administration or reminisced about their memories with former President Roh.

Jeon Jae-soo, a leading pro-Roh and pro-Moon figure from Busan and a Democratic Party lawmaker, quoted former President Roh’s words on SNS that day: "Whether it didn’t rain or it rained too much, it all seemed like my responsibility. Watching the 9 o’clock news, there was nothing that wasn’t the president’s responsibility. The president was that kind of person," and mourned, saying, "The late President Roh’s words during his lifetime resonate even more deeply in my heart now."

He added, "Instead of tears shed out of longing and apology, I will rise again with a strong resolve," and said, "I will overcome the current crisis and make history."

Park Chan-dae, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, shared a photo from the 8th anniversary memorial service of former President Roh in 2017, saying, "It is the road back to Bongha (village). Seven years since that day, and another seven years after that," and added, "Awake rivers never give up on the sea." He also included a message targeting Japan’s discharge of contaminated water from Fukushima, saying, "You bastards, don’t pollute the sea."

Kim Ju-young, a Democratic Party lawmaker, said, "It has been 14 years since former President Roh left our side. Today, I miss him very much, again and again," and added, "But even at this moment, the spirit of Roh Moo-hyun lives and breathes among us. Reflecting on that spirit, I take each step today and tomorrow." Kim Won-i, another Democratic Party lawmaker, posted an image commemorating the 14th memorial service with the theme "History is slow, but it progresses."

Lee Dong-hak, former Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, shared former President Roh’s presidential candidacy declaration speech, and Kim Eui-gyeom, a Democratic Party lawmaker, shared articles he wrote while covering the Blue House during former President Roh’s administration. Kim said, "The media constantly attacked the president, so his popularity could never rise. I was one of those reporters. I had feelings of pity and remorse for the president deep in my heart. One day, I suddenly put those feelings into an article. Of course, it was never published. A senior at the newspaper mocked me, saying, 'What, Kim Eui-gyeom, were you pro-Roh?'"

Yoo Jeong-joo, a Democratic Party lawmaker, wrote on her SNS that day, "Today, marking the 14th anniversary of his passing, I cannot help but feel more devastated than ever. Under the prosecution-led government that recklessly rushes endlessly into the past, the country has changed from a 'world where people live' to a 'world where the prosecution lives,'" and added, "As if the 'Yoon Seok-yeol train' is running out of control, the ruling party’s reckless and ignorant actions are turning society upside down."

She continued, "In this dismal world, I want to hold onto even the hem of the president’s clothes and weep," and said, "Nevertheless, the reason we join hands again and stand together is because 'rivers never give up on the sea.'" The phrase "rivers never give up on the sea" was also a saying of former President Roh during his lifetime.

Meanwhile, on the 14th anniversary of former President Roh’s passing, a memorial service will be held this afternoon at the Ecological Cultural Park near the presidential tomb in Bongha Village. The late president’s family and politicians from both ruling and opposition parties will gather in one place, and President Yoon Seok-yeol is expected to send a wreath through Lee Jin-bok, his Senior Secretary for Political Affairs, to pay tribute and express condolences.

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