South Koreans mourn troubled former president
Updated
The South Korean government may be expressing its anger at the North Koreans' nuclear test, but ordinary South Koreans appear to be little affected by news. Many are in mourning and still trying to come to terms with the death of former South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun.
Presenter:Brett Cole
Speakers: Moon-Byung-il, mourner; Jee Young-joon, mourner
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COLE: (sfx - FLUTE) The sound of a flute being played by a makeshift shrine to former South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun. More than 150,000 people have visited the shrine in downtown Seoul over three days, according to volunteers who set up the tribute to Mr Roh. School children, senior citizens, university students and office workers wait patiently in line, clutching white chrysanthemums. As they approach a portrait of Mr Roh, Korean mourners will take off their shoes and then prostrate themselves on the ground twice as a mark of respect. Many wipe tears away from their eyes. Moon Byung-il says Mr Roh was Korea's greatest president.
MOON: He was an outstanding president. He had clear principles. He was loved by the people. That's why there is national grief.
COLE: But Mr Roh's death has a seamy side. The 62-year old committed suicide on Saturday morning, jumping from a cliff overlooking his home in the tiny village of Bongha, about 450 kilometres south of Seoul. In April, Mr Roh admitted to graft. He was expected to be charged by prosecutors. His elder brother is in prison after being convicted of bribery and his wife, son and daughter may have also been charged with receiving money illegally. Rather than face further public humiliation, Mr Roh killed himself. In a note to his family Mr Roh says he ``made the life of too many people difficult.'' The former president asked his family to burn his body and put up a simple grave stone near his home. South Korea's Justice Ministry announced it would stop the investigation into Mr Roh and his family following the former president's suicide. Still, Jee Young-joon said Mr Roh was a man of the people.
JEE: I feel regret. (Mr Roh) has shown qualities that no other president has shown. Due to an incident that has yet to be proven he has been hurt and all his accomplishments have been annulled. (Mr Roh's) death was an inevitable choice made under the circumstances.''
COLE: North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il, who met Mr Roh in October 2007 in Pyongyang, expressed ``profound condolences'' to the former president's family. Then Mr Kim ordered the country's second nuclear test and a rocket launch. North Korea exploded its first nuclear bomb in 2006 when Mr Roh was president. But that didn't stop Mr Roh from pursuing economic, social and political contacts with North Korea. Mr Roh's successor Lee Myung-bak has curtailed contacts with North Korea. Mr Roh's supporters and Mr Lee's supporters have a great deal of enmity toward each other, mirroring the right-left schism in Korean political life. Mr Roh's funeral will take place on Friday.
