노무현 서거 10주기...봉하마을에 추모객 발걸음 이어져
Tomorrow marks the tenth anniversary of former South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun's passing.
To commemorate the day,... many are visiting Bongha Village where the liberal president was laid to rest.
Our Park Hee-jun reports from the village.
It's been almost a decade since the passing of former president Roh Moo-hyun.
Roh served as the 16th president of South Korea from 2003 to 2008.
Now-President Moon Jae-in was his presidential chief of staff and longtime friend.
Roh took his own life while being investigated for bribery allegations in 2009.
At Bongha Village near Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do Province,... the late president's hometown and resting place,... there are endless visitors who don't want to let go of his memory.
"I still can't believe it's been ten years. I still have the memories from when he was alive. I came here to relieve some of my emotional burden."
"I still feel tears coming out. Commoners like us liked a world where we could say what we wanted to say. That was possible because we had someone like him."
Even his private residence is full of visitors, to mark the tenth anniversary.
Roh used to greet guests a dozen times a day.
Although he can no longer do so,... the residence has been open to the public since May last year.
"Tracing his course of life at his home, I can experience what kind of life he lived."
"And to mark the tenth anniversary of his passing, a memorial event will be held here at his grave on Thursday the 23rd. Around five-thousasnd people are expected to attend the ceremony,... to remember and honor the late president Roh Moo-hyun."
Among the attendees is former U.S. President George W. Bush Roh's counterpart during his term.
Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon and National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang will also attend the event.
Park Hee-jun, Arirang News, Gimhae.
