Democratic Party Rep. Jeong Cheong-rae visited the tomb of late President Roh Moo-hyun in Bongha Village, Gimhae, Gyeongnam Province, on March 23, shedding tears during the tribute.
Emotional Visit to Former Leader’s Resting Place
Jeong, accompanied by his chief of staff, bowed deeply at the tomb site. He wiped away tears with his hand while gazing at the serene surroundings. In a heartfelt remark, Jeong stated, “President Roh… I should have visited sooner. There was so much more to Roh Moo-hyun.”
He affectionately referred to the late president by the nickname ‘Sari-bi,’ reflecting on his active involvement at Roh’s private residence and his entry into government roles alongside Roh’s key aides.
Calls for Continued Prosecutorial Reform
Following the tribute, Jeong held a planned press event and convened the party’s highest committee meeting. He declared, “President Roh Moo-hyun did exceptionally well during his tenure,” adding, “I am grateful to him. The prosecutorial investigations were resolved within this administration.”
Jeong emphasized, “We recreate President Roh Moo-hyun even if two more terms pass.” He noted, “There were individuals worthy of the grave responsibility for prosecutorial reform.”
Criticizing past approaches, he said, “Prosecutorial powers unbound by constitutional limits led to their downfall.” Jeong continued, “Those unable to manage time properly here and who stalled reform measured themselves against President Roh Moo-hyun.” Despite hunger, he refrained from eating the sweet potatoes offered at the committee.
Third Visit Since Taking Office
This marks Jeong’s third visit to the site since assuming his role, following trips in August and January. Afterward, he met with Gyeongnam Provincial Council Chairman Nam Bu-ja for citizen discussions before heading back to Daejeon to join a large-scale disaster response team meeting.
