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President Moon Jae-in speaks at the memorial ceremony for the eighth anniversary of the death of former President Roh Moo-hyun

1,004 yellow butterflies flew into the sky as Owl Rock on Bongha Mountain looked on. The event was organized by the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation with the hope that the spirit of former president Roh Moo-hyun (in office 2003-08) would rest in peace and fly in freedom. After looking up at the flying butterflies for a while, President Moon Jae-in pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed his teary eyes. Moon had visited Bongha Village on May 23 of each year since Roh’s death in 2009, but the situation was different this year. Moon was Roh’s friend and last Chief of Staff, as well as the chief mourner of his tragic death, and is now president of South Korea. (Owl Rock overlooks Bongha Village, and is the point Roh jumped from when he committed suicide.)

“For today, at least, I think that Roh Moo-hyun is hidden somewhere among us and that he feels grateful to all of us and is feeling great,” Moon said. He brought to this memorial service, the eighth to be held since Roh’s death, the news that political power had changed hands for the first time in nine years, and he began his remarks with a smile and an unusually peaceful expression on his face. Roh’s supporters hold that Roh’s suicide was instigated by political retribution, and at previous memorial services, they have booed, cursed and thrown water at right-wing politicians. But this year’s memorial service toggled between laughter and tears.

Moon’s remarks about “working together to make this a country that is worthy of the name” during his message at the service marked his vow to enter a new era through achieving “reform” (symbolized by “eradicating deep-rooted evils”) and “unity” (based on that reform). Moon promised to achieve the “unfinished dream” of a world without rulebreakers and special privileges, a world grounded in common sense and principles-the dream that was forgotten after Roh‘s efforts were frustrated. His remarks are consistent with what he said during his visit to Roh’s grave shortly after he was confirmed as the presidential candidate for the Minjoo Party on Apr. 3: “The world of human dignity of which Roh Moo-hyun dreamed will be made possible when we achieve the two tasks of reform and unity.”

in Bongha Village

Noting that Roh had dreamed of “a country in which democracy, human rights and welfare function properly, a country without the problems of regionalism, ideological conflict and discrimination,” Moon also expressed his remorse that Roh’s government “had failed to overcome practical obstacles, because it was not as strong as its ideals were lofty.”

Moon said he believed that his administration owed its origin to “the power of citizens who are awake,” which Roh had declared was the energy that changes the world. “Roh’s dream was resuscitated by the power of citizens who are awake,” he said, identifying this as the significance of the candlelight rallies that illuminated the whole country from last winter until this spring and brought about a peaceful change of government.

Even while declaring his determination to usher in a new age, Moon bade a fond farewell to the age of Roh Moo-hyun. Moon said, “I’m giving you back to the people now. After being a successful president and completing my duty, I will return,” Moon promised, while explaining that he would not attend the memorial service for the duration of his presidency and would instead cherish Roh in his heart. This represents his fervent desire to successfully lead the government for all South Koreans, rather than being stuck and remaining president only for a specific group.

By Lee Jung-ae, staff reporter

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