Roh Moo-hyun

16th President of the Republic of Korea (1946–2009)

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Lived 1946–2009, aged 63South Korea

South Korea PoliticiansPolitician

Wikipedia
78 languages
Cross-language footprint
Era
1946–2009
Aged 63
Known for
King of Clones
2023

Summary

Updated 2026-09-07

South Korea's ninth president came from human rights law, rode a wave of young internet voters into office in 2003, presided over the freest press and strongest currency his country had seen in years — then left office deeply unpopular, returned to a duck farm, and jumped from a cliff fourteen months later when bribery prosecutors came knocking.

Biography

About

Roh Moo-hyun was born 1 September 1946, the first South Korean president born after Japanese rule ended. He built a career defending student activists, then ran on a platform to end regionalism in politics, winning the presidency in 2003 with heavy support from young internet users and the so-called 386 Generation — thirties-something former protest veterans born in the sixties. His tenure saw South Korea crack the world's top ten economies, exceed $20,000 per capita for the first time, and earn the highest press freedom marks from Reporters Without Borders. But plans to move the capital and f…

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from Roh Moo-hyun

Roh Moo-hyun

said10 Dec 2007

I have believed for a long time that North Korea was willing to give up nuclear weapons, and there is no change in my belief.

— "Interview with South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun" in CNN (10 December 2007)

Roh Moo-hyun

said10 Dec 2007

Korea-U.S. relations were important in the past and will be important in the future. We have had dark moments in our relationship and times when we needed very close cooperation.

— "Interview with South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun" in CNN (10 December 2007)

Roh Moo-hyun

said10 Dec 2007

In Korea, to step down from the presidency is to step down from politics. But I thought about what it means to step down. I hope that means a free man.

— "Interview with South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun" in CNN (10 December 2007)

Roh Moo-hyun

said1 May 2006

Japan's present claim to Dokdo is an act negating the complete liberation and independence of Korea.

— "Rocky Relations" in Time Magazine (1 May 2006)

Roh Moo-hyun

said15 May 2003

It is unpredictable what course of action North Korea will take in the coming days, but no government has a policy that can never be changed. They can never be unchanged.

— "Newsmaker: South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun" in PBS (15 May 2003)

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