President Lee Jae-myung Stands Before Late Roh Moo-hyun as First Sitting President: "I Will Fulfill Your Unfinished Dream" (Comprehensive)

President Lee Attends 17th Anniversary Memorial for Former President Roh Moo-hyun
From Citizen to Opposition Leader to Presidential Candidate, Now Visiting Bongha as President
A Symbol of Inheriting Democratic Government
Emphasizes Reform,

President Lee Jae-myung, who has previously visited Bongha Village as a citizen, opposition party leader, and presidential candidate, now stood before the late former President Roh Moo-hyun as the incumbent president. At the 17th anniversary memorial service for the late President Roh on May 23, President Lee stated, "I, too, am one among the many 'Roh Moo-hyuns,'" adding, "I will ensure that the dream left unfulfilled by the President, a government of national sovereignty, is fully realized."

President Lee Jae-myung and his wife, former First Lady Kwon Yang-sook and their eldest son Geonho, former President Moon Jae-in and his wife, along with other attendees, are heading to the memorial altar holding chrysanthemums at the 17th anniversary memorial service for the late former President Roh Moo-hyun held on May 23, 2026, in Bongha Village, Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do. Photo by Cheongwadae Press Photo Team, Yonhap News Agency

President Lee and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung attended the 17th anniversary memorial ceremony for the late President Roh, held that afternoon at the Ecological and Cultural Park in Bongha Village, Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do. This marks the first time that a sitting president has attended President Roh’s memorial service. The ceremony, held under the theme "Democracy in My Life, From the Square to the Village," was attended by former First Lady Kwon Yang-sook and the bereaved family, former President Moon Jae-in and former First Lady Kim Jung-sook, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, leaders from the ruling bloc, members of the Participatory Government, and citizens.

At the center was former First Lady Kwon Yang-sook, with President Lee and his wife and former President Moon and his wife entering the ceremony hall together on either side. President Lee, dressed in a black suit and black tie, greeted guests and then took a seat in the front row.

In his eulogy, President Lee first recalled his previous visits to Bongha Village. "At first, I came as a citizen, then as the leader of the opposition, and later as a presidential candidate," he said. "Today, I stand here as the president appointed by the people of our nation." He continued, "Now, beyond my feelings of remembrance, as President of the Republic of Korea, I deeply feel the grave responsibility and weight of this office, and I intend to carry on your legacy."

This attendance goes beyond simple commemoration; it is interpreted as a reaffirmation of the political roots and policy direction of the Lee administration. President Lee described the vision for Korea that former President Roh dreamed of, emphasizing: ▲ a society where one can succeed without privilege or foul play and where everyone receives fair rewards for their hard work; ▲ a country where the capital and the regions grow and develop together; ▲ a community that embraces and understands one another; and ▲ a world where no one gives up on life because of livelihood struggles.

He also put his will for reform front and center. President Lee declared, "I will resolutely push for reforms that eliminate foul play and privilege, unafraid of resistance from vested interests." By directly linking the symbolic slogan of former President Roh, "A world without foul play and privilege," to his own administration’s reform agenda, he placed the ongoing themes of social normalization, restoration of fairness, and strengthening of national sovereignty—emphasized since his inauguration—squarely within the spirit of Roh Moo-hyun.

Balanced regional development was also a key message. President Lee stated, "I will create a balanced Korea where people in every corner of the country can live well, without any region being left behind." This signals his intent to inherit the legacy of former President Roh, who pursued the relocation of the administrative capital and local autonomy, by alleviating the Seoul-centric structure and putting regional life at the heart of national governance.

President Lee Jae-myung delivers a eulogy at the memorial ceremony marking the 17th anniversary of the death of former President Roh Moo-hyun, held on May 23 at Bongha Village in Gimhae, Gyeongnam. May 23, 2026. Photo by the Presidential Office Press Photographers Group, Yonhap News Agency

On inter-Korean relations, President Lee referenced former President Roh’s October 4 Joint Declaration. "Following in the footsteps of the late President, who turned the line of division into a path of peace and achieved the October 4 Joint Declaration, I will steadfastly pursue the path of peaceful coexistence and common prosperity," he said. Even amid stalled progress despite various conciliatory gestures and messages, he reaffirmed his commitment to the principle of peace and coexistence.

President Lee also pledged to carry on the political path of former President Roh. "As you did, I will prioritize right and wrong over political advantage or disadvantage," he said, "choosing conscience over compromise and sincerity over calculation." He added, "I will devote all my efforts, always remembering that the only true measure of a successful president is whether the lives of the people improve."

The latter part of the eulogy was devoted to reflecting on "Roh Moo-hyun the person." President Lee described the late president as "someone who said he liked the nickname 'Fool Roh Moo-hyun' the most and wished to be called that, someone who humbled himself in order to build a strong nation through modest leadership." Lee also recalled, "He was the one who would laugh and say he would gladly bear criticism from the people if it helped them relieve their stress."

President Lee identified the greatest legacy of the late president as the power of the citizens. "It is the organized power of awakened citizens that moves history forward. The power of the people is greater than that of authority. Democracy is safeguarded not by a handful of leaders but by the participation and solidarity of citizens," he said. "All of you, the people of Korea, are constantly proving the unwavering faith that the President left behind."

Concluding his eulogy, President Lee declared, "I will protect this nation and its people, whom you cherished and loved so dearly." He pledged, "Even if I sometimes have to stop or stumble, I will never retreat. I will give my all to ensure that your dream, which is both our past and our future, becomes reality."

President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung are paying tribute with flowers at the 17th memorial ceremony for the late former President Roh Moo-hyun held at Bongha Village, Gimhae, Gyeongnam on May 23, 2026. Photo by Cheongwadae Press Corps, Yonhap News Agency

At the memorial service, there were also calls to expand the spirit of Roh Moo-hyun into all aspects of daily life. In his address, Roh Moo-hyun Foundation Chairman Cha Seong-soo said, "We must not stop; democracy must be expanded and deepened from the square to the village, to the school, to the workplace, and into our everyday lives." Former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook, in her eulogy, mentioned the December 3 Martial Law Incident, stating, "When martial law was declared, we witnessed firsthand in the square the organized power of awakened citizens that you so passionately called for and longed for."

As the family representative, Roh Geon-ho expressed gratitude, saying that the late president’s life and politics "were meaningful in that, even amid a vicious cycle of cynicism and hostility, he left many people with a politics of goodwill and sincerity."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.