[The Editors' Verdict] Admiration and Hatred: Roh Moo-hyun of Our Time

"Only after the flowers have fallen do we realize it was spring." This is a message imbued with a profound longing for a particular politician. In Bongha Village, Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province—at the memorial site of the late former President Roh Moo-hyun—such words of remembrance are densely placed upon the stone slabs. It is a space filled with stories of emotions where yearning and regret intertwine. For those whose hearts ache at the mere mention of Roh Moo-hyun’s name, May is a season of sorrow. The complexity of these emotions cannot be explained simply by the fact that he was a leader who met a tragic end. There is a sense of remorse for coming to understand his sincerity only too late.

A politician who stood tall before the powerful and showed gentleness toward the weak. Though his words were rough and unrefined, he never stopped challenging the greater cause of history. Such figures are rare in Korean political history. This is why many consider Roh Moo-hyun to be a representative figure of his era.

According to Gallup Korea, Roh Moo-hyun has ranked first in public opinion polls for "Koreans’ Favorite President." He held the top spot in 2014, 2019, and again in 2024. The real-life case of this high school graduate-turned-lawyer, who stood up to a harsh era and did not ignore the injustice faced by the son of a humble rice soup shop owner—as depicted in the film "The Attorney," which drew 10 million viewers—was none other than politician Roh Moo-hyun himself. Although he seems to be receiving historical reevaluation and is revered by many, he still endures the "shadows of society."

His death is mocked and consumed as an object of hatred. Since that day in May 2009, this has continued for 17 years. Gwak Sang-eon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said, "The life and death of former President Roh continues to be consumed like a game," adding, "It happens anew every single day." Representative Gwak, who is also Roh's son-in-law, announced plans for legal action against posts on communities like DC Inside and Ilgan Best Store (Ilbe).

The problem is that many underestimate the seriousness of this situation. Most people do not realize just how deeply rooted these sentiments of hatred are or how they threaten our society’s future. In spaces where hatred is repeatedly consumed, even the tragedies of others become material for amusement.

"The Rise of the 1020 Far Right" by Jeong Mincheol is a book that tracks this very mechanism. "We are now living in a world where the 'MH Generation,' which has grown up having lost the ability to empathize with others' suffering and learning hatred as play, comes of age." The book reflects on what kinds of conversations and thoughts children are having in online communities, on social networking services (SNS), and in gaming chat rooms.

If we neglect the poisonous mushroom of hatred that has spread to children due to adults’ ignorance and misjudgment, the future of our society will be bleak. We cannot afford to rely on vague optimism that things will naturally improve once these children become adults. The attitude that proper history education alone will change them is also a careless approach.

It is time to confront the wave of 1020 far-right extremism that has already become a reality, just as it is. Only by seeking out the causes can solutions be found. We need to hear from sociologists, political scientists, teachers, parents, and the children themselves. More important than deciding who is right is asking whether it is acceptable to leave this hatred unchecked.

In a world where hatred becomes play and the suffering of others is ridiculed, there is no safe zone. The only difference is the order in which it happens—anyone can fall into the swamp of hatred, and anyone’s pain can become a source of amusement at any time. It is time to stop this devastating countdown.

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