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"

President Lee Jae-myung stated on August 31 that the political legacy of the late former President Roh Moo-hyun—the vision of "A World Where People Live"—remains an ongoing challenge. He emphasized, "We must uphold our principles while remaining grounded in reality, and go beyond good intentions and slogans to find answers that genuinely change the lives of the people."

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.

On this day, President Lee posted a congratulatory message on Facebook to mark the publication of the biography of Roh Moo-hyun, writing, "Remembering Roh Moo-hyun is not simply reminiscing about the past, but rather confronting the questions he posed in the context of today's reality and seeking answers relevant to our era." He added, "By taking such steps forward, we can move closer to achieving the Korea we dream of."

President Lee also mentioned that his perspective on the life and choices of former President Roh has changed since he became president himself. He said, "Before taking office, I used to look at the path he walked. Now that I am standing on that same path, the weight of your anguish, solitude, and decisive choices, revealed in every word, strikes me with a very different sense of resonance and gravity than before."

He continued, "To revisit the life of an individual is also to reconnect with the ideas and dreams that person left behind." He added, "As I open this biography, I, too, reflect anew on the journey President Roh Moo-hyun took and the vision he imparted to us."

President Lee also shared his special memories of former President Roh. "Most memories fade with time, but there are some that become even clearer as the years go by. For me, the name 'Roh Moo-hyun' is such a memory," he said. "Although many years have passed, I am still not accustomed to your absence."

Regarding the significance of publishing the biography, President Lee expressed his hope, saying, "For those who remember President Roh Moo-hyun, I hope it serves as an opportunity for renewed reflection, and for younger generations unfamiliar with his life, I hope it offers a valuable chance to newly encounter the man and his era."

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