In Memory of Fool Roh Moo-hyun
By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
About 5 million Koreans, 10 percent of the population, paid respect to the former President Roh Moo-hyun at altars set up in his hometown, Seoul and other areas across the nation over the last seven days.
From Thursday night to Friday's funeral service, The Korea Times spent time with citizens who gathered to mourn the former President.
The following is an account of the hours leading up to the former head of state's final goodbye.
10 p.m. Thursday
The lines of mourners encircling the altar at Deoksu Palace in central Seoul were getting longer ― endlessly meandering the palace in various directions and making another long line across the street to City Hall.
Most were holding candles and white chrysanthemums in their hands. Some folded colorful paper cranes and hung them on trees, hoping for Roh's repose.
Nobody would have predicted the level of outpouring. What made such a huge crowd of people willingly spend hours on the street for a seconds-long meeting with the late former President?
Many of them said they loved him because he was a ``fool'' who was always engaged in fights and struggles that he had little chance of winning.
Both admirers and foes acknowledged that unlike other former presidents who attempted to reign over people with absolute power ― a series of political decisions he made during his presidency were to give power to the people ― he lowered himself to the level of his fellow citizens, and washed away outdated yet prevailing political legacies such as regionalism and authoritarianism.
``Roh was a humble, frank man but at the same time he was really a passionate man when it came to human rights,'' said housewife Kim Jin-deok. ``I'm really sorry and I'm here to say goodbye to the President who fought against all non-democratic forces.''
Some said the long lines of people underlined the anger toward the Lee Myung-bak administration, the prosecution and conservative newspapers which they believe played some role in forcing Roh to end his life in such a tragic way.
``I believe Roh threw his body in a desperate bid to stop the ever-increasing dominance of non-democratic forces in our nation,'' said Nam Soo-in, 47, a father of three daughters.
Min Sang-gi, a longtime supporter of Roh, said, ``Despite opposition from vast interest groups, he pushed ahead with and followed his beliefs like a fool. A series of measures Roh implemented were what Korean society should work through some day to meet true democracy.''
11:00 p.m.
The line of mourners was more than one kilometer long and growing. Countless yellow, white and black ribbons were hung beside the long line of people.
Many high school students were spotted ― some handing out candles and others picking up garbage from the street.
``Look! People in a country obsessed with `do-it-fast' are waiting for hours to see you for only seconds,'' a note read.
Choi Ha-eun, 18, was one. ``Roh was just like a warm-hearted, next-door uncle,'' said Choi, who had a chance to meet the former President at a luncheon for his bodyguards and their families in early 2003. ``He treated me like his real granddaughter and was never high-handed.''
Fellow volunteer Kim Nam-ho, dressed in black, was working to maintain order at the front of the altar.
``I couldn't sleep for the first few days following his death on Saturday. Since then, I have visited here every night to help mourners,'' said Kim, a 40-something self-employed man. ``He is my hero and survives in my heart. Conservative people and vested interest groups have defamed Roh by describing him as a daydreamer. But look! His dream of making a united society regardless of backgrounds, wealth and social status is now unfolding.''
2:30 a.m. Friday
By this stage, the parade of mourners was a little shorter than three hours before, but still nearly 500 meters long.
Nobody appeared to complain about the wait.
``We arrived here at midnight,'' said Min Seok-ki, who visited the scene with two colleagues. ``We don't know how much time it will take for us to bid farewell to Roh. But I don't care how much time it takes. I'm going to see him tonight.''
A group of mourners were standing on a corner of the street folding paper cranes ― a symbol believed to make wishes come true.
Hundreds were on display. They are to be delivered to the former President's retirement residence in Bongha Village in South Gyeongsang Province after the funeral, volunteer workers said.
``I wished him an eternal rest in peace,'' said one woman who said she had stood in line for six hours.
Some kids, holding a candle in one hand, closed their eyes and prayed to the paper cranes for Roh's everlasting rest in peace.
At times, the scene turned into a venue for public discussion over political issues and current affairs. There were some arguments, though they were soon solved in peaceful way.
7:30 a.m.
Banners containing words of condolence flew in the cool morning breeze.
Seoul Plaza, encircled by police buses, opened for a public memorial service in the afternoon, the first time in the seven days since Roh's tragic death on Saturday. Some eager supporters awaiting its opening rushed to the venue to take a front seat.
``You were President for the needy and underprivileged,'' a banner read. ``We miss you so much.''