The name we miss, Roh Moo-hyun

Sadness of May 23, 2009

On May 23, 2009, the sadness of former President Roh Moo-hyun's departure was not just due to the absence of one person. It was also a moment when the ideals and dreams of an era were wounded and shaken. However, the spirit he left behind shone even more brightly in that absence, becoming a beacon that illuminates the direction our society should take today.

Roh Moo-hyun's Human Leadership

Roh Moo-hyun was not just a politician. He embraced the pains of the era and, despite being at the pinnacle of power, he looked the people in the eye. His humane leadership, warm language, righteous courage against injustice, and the messages of participation and integration are still alive today. In the candlelight, in the plazas, and in the small solidarity of everyday life, his voice can still be heard.

The spirit of Roh Moo-hyun reflects the present

His mind does not linger in the past. Rather, in today's reality where conflicts deepen and inequalities become entrenched, it becomes increasingly urgent. Beyond the superficial aspects of politics and systems, what he left behind is a call for fundamental changes in our attitudes and ways of life. He said, 'A world where people live.' The philosophy contained in that succinct statement was a dream of a society where everyone can live with dignity.

The values we must practice

The values of 'inclusiveness,' 'empathy,' 'participation,' and 'justice' that Roh Moo-hyun emphasized so much are what we must practice now. Policies that consider social minorities, attitudes that respect differing opinions, open communication, and transparent systems, and above all, citizens' voluntary participation, embody these values. Such practices are not grand. The spirit can be contained in each of our daily choices and actions. And those small efforts gathered together will ultimately change the world.

Organized power of awake citizens

The future is not friendly to those who are unprepared. However, Roh Moo-hyun told us, 'The organized power of awake citizens protects democracy.' That statement is still valid and resonates even in this moment. The task we must face today is a question of how to practice his spirit beyond mere commemoration. That is true succession and a responsibility for the future.

The speech of Roh Moo-hyun that will be remembered forever

On December 10, 2001, former President Roh Moo-hyun declared his candidacy for the presidential election, confronting the long-standing shadow of South Korea, the 600-year history of kneeling before power. The speech that day was not only a political will of an individual but also a poignant confession awakening the self-portrait of us all and a resolution toward a new era. "Since the founding of Joseon, for 600 years, we have never challenged power to change it." He stated that even if it was justice or truth, history demanded silence when power disapproved. Those who cried out for justice faced death, and their descendants were subjected to destruction. He starkly revealed the 600 years of subjugation that required one to align with power and bow their heads in order to survive and enjoy wealth. "It was a history where one had to live cowardly, closing their eyes and blocking their ears, just to have food to eat." The moral from his mother's teachings—"A stone that is different gets hit. It’s like hitting a rock with an egg"—was not merely a personal story but a common survival strategy of countless individuals who have lived on this land. Even the youth of the righteous 1980s, fearing prison, had no choice but to put down that egg under their parents' heartfelt pleas. Roh Moo-hyun proclaimed that this "cowardly lesson" had to be severed from history. He spoke of the need to create a history where one can stand tall against power, speak of justice, and possess the courage to oppose injustice. "We must settle this history. A history that boldly seizes power against power must be established so that our youth can speak of justice with dignity." This speech was not merely an announcement of candidacy. It was a declaration to correct the tilted axis of the world and a promise to breathe new life into the suppressed breaths of this land for hundreds of years. And now, 16 years later, we stand before the words he left behind and ask, "Have we changed that history?" And we answer, "We are still following the spirit he left for us."

The path of Roh Moo-hyun continues.

The path of Roh Moo-hyun has not ended. He is still by our side. His spirit continues to breathe within us, constantly being reinterpreted through our choices and actions. With a heart where longing and hope coexist, we wish to walk his path again. We sincerely hope that his memory becomes a positive force that drives change in this society, and that his spirit is realized in the lives of many more people.