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| A visitor pays his respects to the late President Roh Moo-hyun during a commemorative event to mark the 11th anniversary of his death at Bongha Village in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, Saturday. Yonhap |
A commemorative event to mark the 11th anniversary of the death of former President Roh Moo-hyun was held Saturday at his hometown of Bongha Village near the southeastern city of Gimhae.
The ceremony was participated in by key political figures, including ruling Democratic Party (DP) leader Lee Hae-chan, former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, and Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the main opposition United Future Party (UFP)
On May 23, 2009, Roh jumped to his death from a cliff behind his retirement home amid a corruption investigation into his family and aides.
As the country's 16th president from 2003 to 2008, the reformist leader is praised for his efforts to eliminate regional divisions and authoritarianism.
The commemorative event used to be attended by thousands of mourners and supporters, but this year it was held on a smaller scale due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the organizer, the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation.
But a large crowd of people visited his grave, wearing yellow visors and carrying yellow umbrellas, to pay tribute to the late leader. The color symbolizes the former President.
"We will continue to strive to realize the values that former President Roh sought and left to us by making a world for the people without privilege and unfairness," DP leader Lee said in an address.
President Moon Jae-in, a longtime friend and colleague of Roh, sent a condolence bouquet. He attended the commemorative ceremony in 2018 and said it would be the last time for him to attend the ceremony for Roh as the incumbent president. (Yonhap)
