Lee: "Roh Moo-hyun's 'A World Where People Live' Is an Ongoing Challenge... We Must Truly Change People's Lives"

Congratulatory Message on the Publication of "Roh Moo-hyun's Biography"

"We Must Go Beyond Good Intentions and Slogans to Find Answers for Our Time"

"Since Becoming President, the Weight of Anguish, Solitude, and Decisions Feels Different"

On August 31, President Lee Jae-myung described the late President Roh Moo-hyun's political legacy, "A World Where People Live," as an ongoing challenge. He stated, "While upholding our principles, we must remain grounded in reality, seeking solutions that genuinely transform people's lives rather than stopping at good intentions and slogans."

President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung are paying tribute by placing flowers at the memorial ceremony for the 17th anniversary of the passing of former President Roh Moo-hyun, held on May 23 at Bongha Village in Gimhae, Gyeongnam. 2026.5.23 Yonhap News Agency.

President Lee wrote this in a congratulatory message on Facebook marking the publication of the biography of Roh Moo-hyun. He continued, "Remembering Roh Moo-hyun is not simply an act of recalling the past. It is about revisiting the questions he posed by facing today's reality and seeking answers that resonate with our times." He added, "By moving forward one step at a time in this way, we can come closer to the Republic of Korea we dream of."

President Lee also mentioned that his perspective on Roh's life and choices has changed since becoming president. He said, "Before taking office, I viewed the path he walked. Now, standing on that very path, the anguish, solitude, and weight of his decisions, evident in every word he left behind, affect me in a profoundly different way."

He went on, "Revisiting a person's life is also an opportunity to encounter the thoughts and dreams they left behind." He further noted, "As I open this biography, I, too, reflect on the path that President Roh Moo-hyun walked and the meaning he left for us."

President Lee also shared a special memory of Roh, saying, "Most memories fade with time. However, there are those that become clearer as time passes. For me, the three letters 'Roh Moo-hyun' are like that." He added, "Although many years have gone by, the absence of President Roh still does not feel familiar to me."

Regarding the significance of the biography's publication, President Lee expressed, "I hope this book will provide a new opportunity for introspection to those who remember President Roh Moo-hyun, and offer a precious chance for the younger generation who may not know him well to newly encounter his life and the era he lived in."

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