By Kim Ji-soo
Opposition leaders to mark the second anniversary of the death of Roh Moo-hyun are expected to gather in Bongha Village in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province today.
Roh jumped to his death from a cliff near his home on May 23, 2009, under pressure from an investigation into alleged bribery involving his family, aides and himself. Like his predecessor, the late former President Kim Dae-jung, he continued with the policy of engaging North Korea.
The gathering comes as the opposition camp looks to form an alliance ahead of the country’s crucial elections next year. The nation goes to the polls to elect new members of the National Assembly in April, and a new President in December. The pursuit of an alliance is in the works, in particular after unified opposition candidates succeeded over the candidates of the ruling Grand National Party in the April 27 by-elections.
The pro-Roh affiliates gathered over the weekend in various venues in the nation. Prominent pro-Roh affiliates ― Ahn Hee-jung, governor of South Chungcheong Province, Kim Doo-gwan, governor of South Gyeongsang Province ― gathered in Seoul Plaza, vowing to support candidates that succeed the policies of the late former President.
“I will not yield the seat of the eldest in the history of the (main opposition) Democratic Party, which has produced the (late) former Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun,” Kim said. He thanked Rep. Sohn Hak-kyu, for leading the DP to victory during the April by-elections, but added that “the thread of history should rest in legitimacy.” Kim’s remark was largely interpreted as an indirect criticism of Sohn, pointing to how difficult it may be to form an alliance among opposition political parties.
Moon Jae-in, close aide and confidant, led a ceremony to remember the late President Roh in Bongha Village on Saturday.