hankyoreh

May 29.

Korean people flew an abundance of yellow paper planes carrying rage, sorrow and hope on May 29, the day “Roh Moo-hyun, the Fool's”funeral ceremony was held. “Roh Moo-hyun, the Fool” is a term of endearment for the late former President Roh Moo-hyun. Citizens coined the phrase when they found that the late former president had devoted himself with great sacrifice and sincerity to the goal of breaking regionalism during his election campaign.

His body left his hometown Bongwha Village located in South Gyungsang Province at dawn and arrived at Kyungbok Palace where his funeral service was held.

When reading the memorial address, former Prime Minister Han Myung-suk’s voice trembled. She and others who spoke during the memorial service expressed their grief and sorrow.

Approximately 500 thousand Korean people gathered at Seoul’s City Hall Plaza carrying yellow balloons to send Roh off. Several citizens started to wail when Roh’s body was hearsed at City Hall Plaza. People shouted, “Our apologies to Roh Moo-hyun, Resurrect Roh Moo-hyun.”

When a recording of Roh singing echoed through the plaza, people joined in and uttered cries of “I love you.”

The late Roh’s body will not go easily to the crematorium in Suwon city located in Gyeonggi Province because it cannot help but stop to consider the sorrow of the people. A woman sat herself down in front of the hearse, and a young man also attempted to block the hearse, saying, “Revive him.”

The late president returned to his hometown of Bongwha Village, his final destination, after midnight. South Korea’s 16th president has passed away forever. However, people have inscribed a memory of him forever in their minds.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]