Nation bids farewell to President Roh

More than a million people gathered yesterday in central Seoul to pay their last tributes to former President Roh Moo-hyun with waves of yellow, the color that represented Roh since his presidential campaign in 2002, flowing across the nation.

Roh died last Saturday at the age of 62, jumping to his death off a cliff behind his retirement home in Bongha village, Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province. After his presidency from 2003 to 2008 ended last February, he and wife Kwon Yang-sook had stayed in their hometown village, some 450 kilometers south of Seoul.



The official funeral service for the former president was held at the front yard of Gyeongbok Palace, Seoul`s landmark royal palace. Some 3,000 guests including President Lee Myung-bak attended the memorial with solemn grief.

The funeral service started as a black limousine carrying Roh`s body entered the venue along with his bereaved family members and close aides. Former first lady Kwon appeared in a black suit, followed by son Gun-ho and daughter Jeong-yeon.

"We have gathered here today to bid farewell to former President Roh Moo-hyun who spent his life fighting for human rights, democracy and the end of authoritarianism -- a true `people`s president` he was," Prime Minister Han Seung-soo said in his memorial address. "We will strive to follow your last wishes on reconciliation, unity and a better nation."

"President, we are sorry we made you suffer. We love you. Leave behind your burden and rest in peace," said Han Myeong-sook who served as prime minister during the Roh administration.

The sorrow of attending guests escalated when Roh`s interviews and photos were shown in a film and his favorite song "Sangroksoo (Evergreen tree)" was sung by the national choir.

There was some disturbance, though, when President Lee and the first lady headed to the altar to offer white chrysanthemum before Roh`s portrait. While some Roh supporters were hissing at the couple, Baek Won-woo, lawmaker from the opposition Democratic Party, came out of the audience, yelling "Apologize, President." After being held back by security guards for a while, he could join the funeral.

The clean image of Roh, who is also a former human rights lawyer, was recently tarnished amid bribery scandals involving his close aides and family members. In April, he became the nation`s third former president to appear before prosecutors. But Roh supporters have criticized the prosecution investigations as politically motivated.

After the funeral, the hearse carrying Roh`s body along with families and aides moved slowly to Seoul Plaza near the city hall for a memorial rite. The eight-lane road was filled with weeping crowds waving yellow balloons and ribbons.

His body was cremated at a crematorium in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. His ashes will be placed at a temple where the memorial tablets of his late parents are enshrined before being buried near his rural home.

As the nation`s only former president to return to his hometown after presidency, he also was interested in environment-friendly farming and related issues.

By Lee Ji-yoon



(jylee@heraldm.com)