Jeong Sye-gyun Ending Term at Roh Moo-hyun Foundation: "A World Where Common Sense Doesn't Work... It's Frustrating to Death"

Chung Sye-kyun Expresses Regret and Reflection
"Three Years of Service as Chairman... I Have Repaid About Half of My Debt of Gratitude"

Former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, who completed his term as chairman of the People’s Party for a Better Society Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, stated, "I never imagined that the 'world where common sense prevails,' which former President Roh Moo-hyun repeatedly emphasized, would be such a difficult task."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun are shaking hands before a luncheon meeting at a restaurant in Jongno-gu, Seoul, in December 2023. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

In his farewell message posted on Facebook on the 12th, former Prime Minister Chung said, "President Roh, how do you see the world these days? It must be frustrating, right? I am also frustrated to the point of despair."

He added, "A world where nonsense becomes common sense, and abnormality pretends to be normal," and criticized, "A world where martial law is declared as a warning?what more can I say? And yet, it is a world that does not even know the slightest shame."

Recalling his meeting with former President Roh three months before his passing in February 2009, former Prime Minister Chung said, "At that time, he wondered why I came, but since I was in Busan, I just stopped by," adding, "He was very glad to see me, but there was a shadow on his face."

He continued, "I have regretted many times that I did not ask him to rejoin the Democratic Party that day," and said, "If the Democratic Party had been stronger with public support, would the President have fallen so tragically? It really hurt my heart."

Former Prime Minister Chung said, "I have lived with such a sense of indebtedness," and added, "Having served as the foundation’s chairman for three years, I consider that I have repaid about half of that debt."

He said, "The foundation should look to the future, but it remains stuck in the past. It seems to be because of lingering regrets and attachments to the President, unwilling to let go of the strings of memory," and added, "We must focus not only on what kind of world Roh Moo-hyun dreamed of but also on how to quickly realize that world."

Meanwhile, the successor chairman will be Cha Seong-su, former head of Geumcheon District and former senior secretary for civil society at the Blue House during the Roh Moo-hyun administration.

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