hankyoreh

May 29.

The former President Roh Moo-hyun’s final exit was not a lonely one because he could hear his favorite songs being sung amidst a wave of yellow balloons and hats of countless people wearing the color of his presidential campaign. Roh had the people, the color yellow and songs watching over him during his last trip.

On Friday, the day of Roh’s funeral, some 500,000 citizens, just in Seoul alone, followed Roh along the streets. In places throughout Seoul, like Seoul Plaza and Sejongno, people tied yellow balloons. Seoul Plaza was turned into a “sea of yellow” thanks to all the people carrying yellow items. Tens of thousands of people had tied yellow scarves to their arms and wrists, and had fastened yellow ribbons to their chest. You could also see people in suits wearing yellow neckties instead of black ones. Some were wearing yellow stickers on their faces. The Nosamo group (Gathering of People Who Love Roh Moo-hyun) passed out yellow paper hats. At Seoul Plaza, where memorial services were held, eyes were drawn to the yellow roses being handed out. A Mr. Park, age 22 and a university student said he bought 63 yellow roses to hand out to nearby people during the service. Park said he wanted to be cheery despite the sadness, and serene in watching over the procession despite his grief.

A heap of yellow paper airplanes that had been folded by citizens overnight rested above the black hearse. From the time the hearse left Bonghwa Village in Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do at dawn to the time it left Seoul Plaza, citizens were throwing yellow paper planes at the vehicle as an expression of mourning. People suppressed their sadness as they waited for the hearse to go by, while the yellow balloons they had inflated rested along the street in a mass, as heavy as their sadness.

Peoples’ eyes welled up as Roh’s favorite song played both during the funeral procession and during the memorial ceremonies. During the funeral held at Kyungbok Palace, the National Chorus of Korea sang “Sangnoksu (Pinetree),” which Roh used to enjoy singing. At Seoul Plaza, people were brought to tears as singer Yang Hee-eun sang “Morning Dew” and folk singer Ahn Chi-hwan played acoustic guitar and sang “A Dried Leaf Lives Again.” “With Love,” which everyone gathered at Seoul Plaza sang in unison, seemed more like a sob than a song. “With our love that will never change, we will extend our hand and light up the darkness.”

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