Roh, who was 88 years old, died on Tuesday from complications of various illnesses after suffering from pandemic restrictions. According to doctors, his condition has deteriorated over the years due to a degenerative disorder.
Because of his connections to the coup and the bloody suppression of protesters in Gwangju in 1980, Roh’s state funeral was controversial. It killed approximately 200 people and left hundreds more injured.
Gwangju, along with other cities and province governments, refused to raise flags at half-staff or place memorial altars for Roh in line with state funeral procedures.
Moon did not visit Roh at the memorial altar in Seoul before he left for Rome to meet with Pope Francis and other Group of 20 leaders. He said that Roh had made “significant contributions” to national development, despite numerous historical wrongdoings.
Honor guards wrapped Roh’s coffin in the national flag, and then placed it in the back of a limousine on the last day of the five-day funeral procession. The vehicle was then driven to his home in Seoul by a black convertible, topped with a large portrait of Roh.
The house was quietly toured by family members, including a grandson, who carried a smaller portrait that portrayed Roh. They then headed towards Seoul to attend a funeral at an Olympic Park square. This was the venue that Roh had built for the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.
Due to COVID-19 concerns, the funeral’s attendees were restricted to 50 people. This included relatives, government officials and religious leaders as well as foreign diplomats. Kim Ok-suk Roh’s wife and Roh Jaeheon, their children Roh Soh-young, and Roh Jaeheon, sat in silence, staring solemnly at each other from a distance.
Seoul’s Prime Minister Kim Bookyum is Seoul’s No. 2 stated in a speech, Roh would be remembered for his many achievements as president, such as hosting the Olympics and expanding relations with communist countries.
Kim regretted that Roh had never publicly apologized for the coup and other military atrocities. However, his children expressed his regrets while his health has deteriorated over recent years.
Kim stated, “It is an undisputable fact President Roh Taewoo has an immense error that cannot be fixed.” “Attending the funeral service today, it became clear that no one is immune from the (judgment) of the past.”
Roh is prohibited from being buried at the national cemetery with former leaders and heroes because of his criminal convictions. Roh’s cremated remains will remain in Paju, north Seoul, at a Buddhist temple until his tomb at Paju Reunification Park is ready. This park was constructed during his presidency of 1989 to symbolize peace between the Koreas.
Lee Yongsup, a Gwangju mayor and a member Moon’s liberal Democratic Party said that the city could not honor Roh because he was a core member in dictator Chun Doohwan’s military junta which massacred its citizens.
Lee stated Wednesday that he was the president of our nation, and while we traditionally mourn the death of a person, Gwangju can’t do so (for Roh).
Ned Price, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, stated that Roh has left a “complicated heritage” but that he was credited with ensuring South Korea’s democratic transition under his presidency.
Roh was elected to office in 1988, a decade after becoming the first direct-elected leader of the country following successive military governments at Seoul.
He was an important player in the December 1979 military coup which brought Chun, his longtime friend and army officer to power. After 18 years of being in power, Park Chung-hee was assassinated.
Roh was Chun’s hand-picked successor. However, massive pro-democracy protests of 1987 forced them into accepting a direct presidential vote, which began South Korea’s transition towards democracy.
Despite his military history, Roh portrayed a more relaxed image during the presidential campaign. This was largely due to a split of liberal votes between Kim Young-sam’s opposition and Kim Dae Jung, who were both elected presidents later.
Roh was active in diplomacy and relations with communist countries during his five-year term. He established relations with China and the Soviet Union in the early 1990s.
He also made efforts to improve relations between North Korea. This led to both Koreas issuing a joint statement pledging a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, and joining the U.N. in 1991.
His government was also responsible for hosting the 1988 Seoul Olympics. These were South Korea’s first-ever international event after its rapid reconstruction from the Korean War of 1950-53.
Kim Young-sam was appointed as his successor to investigate the coup and crackdown in Gwangju. Roh was then arrested and convicted of mutiny and treason. He received a sentence of 22 1/2 years. Chun was sentenced death.
These sentences were later reduced by the Supreme Court to 17 years for Roh and life imprisonment for Chun. Roh and Chun spent approximately two years in prison. In late 1997, a special pardon was granted by Kim Dae-jung (then President-elect), who requested national reconciliation.
After his release from prison, Roh had kept most of his activities private. Roh So-young’s daughter wrote last April on Facebook that her father was still in bed for the past 10 years and had lost his ability to speak or move.
