Suicide of a Former President

I had been thinking about writing on this topic, and then I got an e-mail from a friend (my one true fan) wondering about the Korean people's reaction. I had been hearing about former President Roh Moo-hyun in newspapers and on the TV news almost since my arrival in Korea since he and his family were under investigation for bribery occurring during his presidential term. (He was in office just prior to the current president.) From what I could understand, it appeared that he was definitely guilty (he pretty much admitted to it in a hearing) and there was the likelihood that his wife and other members of his family were also involved. Indictments were expected within a week or so.

Last Saturday at dawn he committed suicide by leaping from a cliff behind his house in his hometown. I don't know what reaction exactly I expected but have been somewhat surprised at the visible grief and loss apparently felt by citizens. As I saw it (with very minimal knowledge), the man was a crook. The fact that he committed suicide was sad, but he was taking the "easy" way out rather than accepting the consequences of his actions. This does not seem to be the prevailing emotion amongst Koreans.

First, on Saturday when I met InSook and InAe, they seemed somewhat upset and told me that they had just heard of Roh's suicide. We talked mostly about how sad it was that he took his own life and discussed a bit about his political role. Apparently he was a pro-democracy, human-rights espousing "people's" politician who had been quite popular. He was a liberal while the current government is conservative.

When I returned home on Sunday from the day at the mime festival, I couldn't understand the lines of people snaking through the subway station leading toward the Doeksugung Palace exit. It turned out there was a temporary memorial, one of many throughout the city, set up on the plaza in front of the palace. A large group of people was sitting in front of it while the line of people coming up from the subway station was being directed into the palace grounds where, I assumed, there was some sort of remembrance book or something for them to record their presence.

On Monday evening I was returning from a friend's house and was at Seoul Station. Coming down the steps I had to work my way among the hundreds of people sitting there watching a large screen set up (portable from a truck) apparently showing film clips of Roh. At street level there was an even more extensive memorial altar set up (than at Doeksugung) and a huge group of people moving in zig zagging lines toward a table where people were writing in books and behind which was large poster paper on which people were also writing.

In both places there was a HUGE police presence (the largest I've seen while in Korea), although in neither of these locations did it seem to be needed. The mourners were extremely orderly, waiting in lines patiently for a long time. It appeared that citizens (members of Roh's political party?), not police, were responsible for organizing and directing the crowds.

According to newspaper accounts there were similar remembrance altars set up in many locations in Seoul and throughout the country. In some areas, particularly in the south of the country which was Roh's political base, there was some violence as members of Roh's party blamed the current government for hounding him to his death. And in Seoul some government officials were refused access to one of the memorial altars.

Roh's death has stopped the bribery investigation so his suicide did save his family from possible prosecution, quite possibly the reason, along with personal shame, that he took his own life. Everyone seems to agree that it is appropriate not to continue the investigation because of the absence of the key suspect.

Just a few days ago there was a column in the English-language Korea Times in which the columnist discussed corruption in Korea, which seems to be endemic. Jon Huer (perhaps an adopted or second-generation American Korean) stated his thesis: "What the world calls corruption is in the very nature of Korea, in being Korean and in 'Korean-ness.' It is in the way Koreans think about, feel toward, speak to, do business with and interact with other Koreans." He points out that "bo-wa-juseyo," a frequently-used term literally meaning "look at me" has more of a conspiratorial "look out for me" subtext. Because Koreans are members of "the world's most exclusive, almost-impossible-to-join secret club called Korea," helping another Korean is simply assisting a brother and the right thing to do -- even if technically illegal.

If Huer is correct, that helps explain people's reactions to Roh's death. He was a popular member of the club, did much good, and was being prosecuted (and persecuted) for adhering to the Korean way of doing business and government. So people grieve the loss of this brother.